Home / Extending Average Military Radio Runtime by 38%

Case Study

Extending Mission Runtime for Military Radio Batteries

How a defence organization used fleet battery management to increase average radio runtime by 38% and reduce in-field battery failures.

Results at a Glance

Improved mission readiness through capacity-based battery management.

38% longer runtime

Average measured radio battery runtime increased from 7.6 to 10.5 hours.

82% fewer field failures

Reported battery-related radio failures fell from 17 per quarter to 3.

1,240 batteries managed

Battery condition and service history were tracked across four locations.

21% lower replacement costs

Condition-based decisions reduced unnecessary battery replacements.

Customer and Challenge

A Fully Charged Battery Was Not Always Mission Ready

A North American defence organization managed 1,240 rechargeable radio batteries across four locations, supporting training, base operations and field deployments lasting eight to ten hours.

Although fully charged, some batteries no longer provided enough runtime. An internal review found that 19% of the fleet failed to meet the eight-hour requirement, contributing to 17 radio failures in one quarter and approximately 180 replacements each year.

The organization needed a consistent way to:

• Identify weak batteries before deployment

• Confirm whether each battery could support the full mission

• Standardize readiness decisions across locations

• Reduce unnecessary battery replacements

Solution and Workflow

Managing Batteries as a Fleet

The organization introduced Cadex battery analyzers and centralized battery records to measure capacity before batteries entered mission-ready inventory.

Each battery followed a consistent five-step process:

Identify → Test → Classify → Stage → Monitor

• 80% capacity or greater: Field deployment

• 70% to 79%: Training or non-critical use

• Below 70%: Recondition or replace

Impact

Greater Confidence Before Deployment

Capacity-based testing helped remove weak batteries before they reached the field. Personnel received batteries that had been evaluated against a defined runtime requirement rather than charge status alone.

All four locations followed the same readiness standard, improving consistency and helping supervisors make more informed replacement decisions.

Before

7.6-hour average runtime

17 field failures per quarter

Replacement based on age or complaints

Inconsistent testing between locations

Limited battery history

180 batteries replaced annually

After

10.5 hours average runtime

3 field failures per quarter

Condition-based replacement

Standardized 80% readiness threshold

Centralized records for 1,240 batteries

142 batteries replaced annually

Improve Radio Battery Readiness

Improve Radio Battery Readiness

Cadex helps military and defence organizations measure battery condition, manage battery fleets and identify weak batteries before critical equipment is deployed.

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