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Arotech's New Generation Zinc-Air
Batteries
Demonstrate the Feasibility to Extend Mission Times of Nasa Micro
Aerial Vehicles
June
20, 2005 - Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM: ARTX), announced today
that its Electric Fuel subsidiary, successfully demonstrated its
4th generation zinc air technology in a NASA concept Micro Aerial
Vehicle (MAV). The novel zinc-air batteries delivered 33% more energy
than the state of the art high performance lithium batteries.
The zinc-air battery prototype was developed
for NASA under a contract received earlier this year, to achieve
extended flight times for NASA’s unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The achievement of longer mission
times is critical for our unmanned aerial vehicle programs,”
said Mike Logan, head of the Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laboratory
at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. “We
tested this battery and it successfully powered the engine in our
mini UAV for 58 minutes.”
Arotech’s Electric Fuel has received numerous
development contracts for its 4th generation zinc-air batteries
for MAVs and other applications. The Company has already demonstrated
on several occasions that its zinc air batteries extend the mission
duration of small unmanned aircraft.
“Our high-power, lightweight zinc-air
fuel cell is proving to be a most beneficial solution for the rapidly
growing micro unmanned vehicle market,” said Robert S. Ehrlich,
Arotech Chairman and CEO. “This recent demonstration, together
with other recently announced contracts for our new zinc air cells,
places us at the forefront of this technology and establishes our
leadership in this field.
Arotech’s Battery and Power Systems
Division is a leading provider of zinc-air and lithium
batteries and chargers for defense and security products and other
military applications. Arotech develops and produces high power
zinc-air batteries and is believed to be the sole supplier of this
technology to the US military. In addition, Arotech develops high-end
primary and secondary batteries and associated chargers and has
vast experience in working with government agencies, the military
and large corporations. The division also pioneers advancements
in zinc-air technology for electric vehicles.
The Battery and Power Systems Division consists of Electric Fuel
Battery Corporation, Electric Fuel Ltd., and Epsilor Electronic
Industries Ltd.
About Arotech Corporation
Arotech Corporation is a leading provider of
quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement
and homeland security markets, including multimedia interactive
simulators/trainers, lightweight armoring and advanced zinc-air
and lithium batteries and chargers. Arotech operates through three
major business divisions: Armoring, Simulation and Security and
Batteries and Power Systems.
Arotech is incorporated in Delaware, with corporate offices in Auburn,
Alabama and research, development and production subsidiaries in
Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, California and Israel.
Except for the historical information herein,
the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking
statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, as they are subject to various
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary significantly.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks
relating to: product and technology development; the uncertainty
of the market for Arotech’s products; changing economic conditions;
delay, cancellation or non-renewal, in whole or in part, of contracts
or of purchase orders; and other risk factors detailed in Arotech’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Arotech assumes no obligation to update the information
in this release. Reference to the Company’s website above
does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon
into this press release.
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