KNDS has awarded Thales a significant contract to deliver compact, programmable, and scalable High-Power Solid-State Power Distribution Boards (SSPDB) for the Leopard 2 A8 platform. This advancement represents a critical enhancement in electrical power management for protected vehicles.
The SSPDB developed by Thales is designed to provide essential overcurrent and short circuit protection, enabling smart electrical power management. A short-term delivery of the first SSPDBs is scheduled for Q3 2024, followed by the production of several hundred units by 2027.
In just a few months, the engineering teams from KNDS and Thales have successfully adapted the SSPDB solution to meet the specific power management needs of the Leopard 2 A8. Thales is committed to ensuring the success of the High-Power SSPDB by focusing on key performance areas related to SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), which are essential to meet the stringent power requirements of the platform.
Rated at up to 160A per channel, the multi-channel SSPDBs feature integrated current, temperature, and voltage sensing. They are designed to protect against overcurrent and short circuits while offering the flexibility to utilize pre-programmed operating profiles or real-time selections. This functionality allows for intelligent power management across a variety of mission scenarios.
The first units are expected to be integrated as early as Q3 2024. This time-critical collaboration underscores the ingenuity and agility of both teams involved.
Under the KNDS contract, Thales plans to manufacture hundreds of SSPDBs by 2027, leveraging customization, manufacturing, and testing processes already established for the Thales Power Systems product line.
“With an expertise of more than 20 years, Thales is a global leader in the development and manufacture of Power Systems for protected vehicles. We are proud to have been awarded this contract by KNDS and are confident that this strong partnership will continue,” said Martin Bernhardsgrütter, Country Director of Thales Switzerland.
