High Voltage/High Power for Airborne Applications

The Air Force has requirements for large amounts of electrical power at high voltage (up to hundreds of kilovolts) for certain airborne applications. Because of the severe weight and volume constraints, these systems cannot be realized using conventional technology. The Air Force, therefore, has been heavily involved in the development of lightweight power generation and conditioning equipment. Programs have been undertaken to reduce the weight of rotating machines, transformers, switches, inverters, and capacitors. The advances made in these areas are described, and some aspects of the use of these components in the design of lightweight systems are discussed.