Carol Johnson | Southern Indiana Business Report
BLOOMFIELD – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane and defense industry partners celebrated the completion of NSWC Crane’s first off-site battery test facility last month.
The Next Generation Submarine Main Storage Battery Testing Facility was built at Paragon Force in Bloomfield with support from defense contractors SAIC, which was the prime contractor, and Bowhead. The testing facility will test nickel-zinc batteries for use by the United States Navy submarine fleet.
For years, US Navy submarines have used lead-acid batteries. Nickel-zinc batteries are safer, more compact and have more power density than lead-acid batteries.
During a ribbon-cutting Feb. 17, Capt. Rex Boonyobhas, Commander of NSWC, said the testing facility is critical to the future of the undersea fleet and represents a significant step forward in the fleet’s modernization.
Submarines are nuclear-powered, and batteries serve as the backup power source when the main power goes out.
“This facility serves as a critical component in supporting the next generation of submarine main storage battery development for Virginia class submarines with potential application for Columbia class,” he said.
The testing facility has state-of-the art capabilities, featuring a multitude of battery testing systems to evaluate nickel-zinc cells. The testing process will ensure the batteries are ready for the unforgiving conditions of submarine environments. Batteries will undergo a series of rigorous tests to ensure they are safe, reliable and powerful.
“This is a direct investment to our nation’s security and ensures the United States submarine force remains the most dominant and capable undersea power the world has ever known,” Bonnyobhas added.
“This has been a pivotal moment for our team. This is the first time we’ve stood up a purpose-built facility outside the gate with our industry partners to do battery testing,” said Nova Carden.
William Farris said the project’s success would not have been possible without the internal support of engineers, scientists and technicians and the external support of SAIC, Paragon Force, Bowhead and other subcontractors.
About Paragon Force
Paragon Force specializes in a variety of offerings, including government engineering services, custom foam fabrication, Metrology, kitting, facilities management and quality control.
Paragon Force is a woman-owned business founded in 2009 by Sherri Davis. In 2020, Davis was awarded the Small Business Person of the Year award by the U.S. Small Business Administration.