Achates, Cummins win $14 million military engine project

31 March 2015

Achates Power, a developer of of an opposed piston, two-stroke internal combustion engine, announced it has been awarded a $14 million project by the National Advanced Mobility Consortium to support research and development work of the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The project is the Single Cylinder Advanced Combat Engine Technology Demonstrator, part of the Army’s strategy to modernize tactical and combat vehicles.

For this project, Achates has partnered with Cummins, who will provide expertise in diesel engine technology. Together, their technologies will be used to further refine the opposed-piston engine for lower heat rejection, greater fuel efficiency, increased power density and the ability to operate on various fuels. The end goal is to deliver a product that improves the mobility and performance of combat vehicles.

“Achates Power has realized the potential for impressive efficiency in their development of the opposed piston architecture. We have worked with Achates Power for a number of years now and applaud their engineers and engineering rigor, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration,” said Dr. John Wall, Cummins chief technical officer. “This contract acknowledges the US Army recognizes the special value of this engine design in their application and Achates Power's ability to optimize it.”

In order to create a technology foundation for the Future Fighting Vehicle, the US Army has been focused on the development of a modular and scalable advanced combat engine capable of very low heat rejection, increased fuel economy, excellent durability, and outstanding overall propulsion system power and density, said Achates.

Source: Achates Power