More batteries, more opportunities: As batteries can help win in the war

China's military potential is growing due to new rechargeable technologies. This is one of the factors that are very concerned about US military analysts. In his article, Battery as a Senior Researcher at the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council and security initiative in the Indo-Pacific region, Joseph Webster analyzes how battery technologies affect the development of China's military potential. The focus provides extracts from the article published on the War on the Rocks.

Drones play a prominent role in modern armed conflicts. Senior Researcher at the New American Security Center Samuel Bendett estimated that, for example, Russia and Ukraine use at least 50,000 drones-Kamikadze type FVP (first person view) per month. These UAVs are often equipped with lithium-ion batteries. If the conflict between China and Taiwan coarses, drones can play an equally important role, the author says. The production of drones in China is strongly developed.

Although military and civilian UAVs perform different tasks and have different opportunities, China could re -profile the civilian drones for the needs of their armed forces. The industrial capacity of continental China in the production of air drones and batteries, as well as its proximity to Taiwan may be important in confrontation. It is alarming that Chinese Navy expands the use of drones in operations.

The world's first specialized drone carrier has recently been launched and at least 2 basic drones were built. Analysts believe that these platforms are used for educational purposes, especially to simulate the attack of enemy swarms of drones. Many, and possibly, most of these devices will work on gasoline, diesel or jet fuel, but disposable drones with lithium-ion batteries can also be used.

Synergy between China's UAV, Shipbuilding and Battery Complex capabilities should be the focus of coalition military plans, Joseph Webster says. Batteries are likely to be even more important to the maritime sphere, which will be a decisive factor in any confrontation through Taiwan. Batteries are used in unmanned submarine ships, unmanned surface ships and non -atomic submarines.

Most of the naval forces, especially those who do not access atomic vessels, operate diesel-electric submarines with batteries that charge from diesel fuel. Such submarines should often rise to the surface for air intake or not dive to a great depth to remove the exhaust gases of diesel fuel and reload the battery for work, but this increases the risk of their detection. Submarines with lithium-ion batteries have improved characteristics compared to available lead-acid batteries.

Some advantages of lithium-ion batteries cover a lower risk of detection (because of a smaller submarine, as well as quiet work), greater endurance underwater and higher speeds for sprint and cruise. Although the United States is not operating diesel-electric submarines, it is possible to cooperate with Japanese and South Korean shipping for their construction.

The China's battery complex has shown strong development in recent years, and in many ways it has been more technologically advanced than a global measure. China's Navy can place advanced lithium-ion diesel-electric submarines in the medium term and may already have plans to do so. Solid-state batteries offer even more opportunities than lithium-ionic, including more energy, capacity and security. They will be able to provide devices for increased autonomy, increasing their range.

Such batteries will be installed on submarines, where lithium-ion analogues are dangerous due to possible fire. Although solid -state batteries have not yet been commercialized because of technical problems, military customers, in particular in China, are ready to sponsor research and buy these energy storage facilities that can cost much more than other types of batteries.