Battery producer Eaglepicher Technologies has landed a new, $1.8 million contract to provide nickel-hydrogen battery cells to Lockheed Martin for use on a new U.S. Navy satellite communications system, Eaglepicher reported.

The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite constellation will form a new network of spacecraft for the U.S. Department of Defense to provide narrowband communication to a variety of handheld and fixed location terminals worldwide.

MUOS will replace the current narrowband tactical satellite communications system known as the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the MUOS program for which the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Space Systems and its Communications Satellite Program Office are responsible.

The first MUOS satellite is scheduled for on-orbit handover in 2010.