CPS Technologies Corporation announced that it has been awarded a Phase II SBIR contract from the U.S. Navy Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). With funding of more than $1 million over 30 months, CPS will continue its development of novel metal matrix composites (MMCs) for thermal energy storage to address the requirements of NAVAIR?s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile - Extended Range (AARGM-ER) program. During the Phase I effort, CPS successfully demonstrated the use of aluminum and phase-change materials ?

including composites comprised of nickel titanium, also known as nitinol ? for compact thermal energy storage devices. The University of North Texas, with expertise in the application of nitinol as a phase change material, will act as a subcontractor during Phase II.

Upon successful completion, in addition to supporting the AARGM-ER program, CPS will leverage the aluminum-nickel titanium (Al-NiTi) composites for relevant aerospace, defense, and automotive applications. The mission of the AARGM-ER program is the suppression and/or destruction of enemy air defenses. Its primary targets are mobile, re-locatable integrated air defense targets.

AARGM-ER provides long-range, precision strike capability that enables pilots to remain outside of lethal engagement ranges. Advanced thermal energy storage is a key element of long-range strike capability.