News
Piedrafita DEFPOWER's MILPDU:
Power electronics that guarantees high-tech in armoured vehicles
Electronic architecture is reinvented
The growing demand for electrical power in military vehicles, both in terms of total managed power and the number of consuming equipment, has made the electrical architecture a critical element in the design. Therefore, Piedrafita DEFPOWER has developed a wide portfolio of power distribution units (MILPDU); which represent a milestone in the technological evolution, replacing the obsolete relay and fuse boxes in high performance military vehicles.
The electronic architecture based on solid-state technology results in compact, lightweight and fully user-configurable power electronic units. Their mechanical behaviour, exceptional thermal efficiency, requiring no additional cooling, together with their low-profile electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), make them suitable to meet the most stringent military certifications and ensure optimum performance even in the most demanding environments.
These devices, designed for power distribution in military vehicles, represent a significant leap forward in terms of efficiency, reliability and technological adaptability.
Deployed in key programmes: in-use programmes and technological adaptation
After more than two decades of service on Spanish Army vehicles, Piedrafita DEFPOWER MILPDUs continue to be a key element of flagship military programmes such as SIAC, EIMOS, M109 and VCR 8X8.
Their proven performance and ability to adapt to new technologies make these power distribution units an attractive option for any vehicle or weapon system modernisation programme, such as new generation platform designs. Piedrafita Defpower's MILPDUs have established a new international state-of-the-art and have been selected by several leading vehicle manufacturers in Italy, France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and the United States, where they are under evaluation within the US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle programme.
The versatility of these devices extends even to unmanned vehicles, where they operate with equal success, demonstrating their competence in staying at the forefront of innovation in military electronics and their ability to adapt to the demands of the modern battlefield.
Fleet modernisation programmes: a comprehensive solution with military certifications.
One of the most outstanding features of Piedrafita DEFPOWER's MILPDUs is their ability to retrofit older generation vehicles efficiently and effectively. The elimination of traditional relay and fuse boxes in favour of solid-state technology not only reduces weight and size, but also improves reliability and survivability in highly demanding environments. Fully programmable switching logic and the ability to adapt to different voltage architectures make these devices an attractive option for a wide range of military applications.
Past and future come together in this family of devices, ready to connect to on-board power diagnostics and data acquisition systems, thanks to their ability to monitor and report on the vehicle communications bus.
DEFPOWER's MILPDU devices bring new functionalities to vehicles and systems and are MIL-STD and Def Stan certified for defence, meeting the strict military requirements and standards that guarantee interoperability for the military and its ancillary industries.
Innovative technology for vehicles and systems operating in harsh environments
The electronic architecture in military vehicles has reached a new level of sophistication thanks to these militarised power distribution units from Piedrafita DEFPOWER, which provide the following advantages:
• High reliability: the absence of mechanical parts considerably
increases the reliability of the system.
• More compact size, offering easy integration into any
vehicle architecture
• Adaptable to any low voltage architecture: 12 V - 24 V - 48 V
• Up to 12 kW of managed electrical power
• 99% energy efficiency
• Status and consumption reporting to the vehicle's
communications bus
• Versatility and ease of use by both the system designer
and the end-user
• 100% programmable logic. The programmability of the
solutions allows for much more efficient logistics by allowing
a single reference to be used in any vehicle.
• Military certifications: MIL-STD and Def Stan
