Powering the dismounted soldier: silent, lightweight, multi-fuel

A wearable multi-fuel fuel cell replaces the stack of lithium-ion batteries a dismounted soldier carries — powering radios, night vision, GPS, thermal optics and ECM over a ~72-hour mission at under ~2.7 kg (6 lbs) including fuel. It runs near-silently with a low thermal signature, works from −32 °C to +60 °C, and refuels in the field in minutes with methanol or ethanol from almost any source. Less weight, longer endurance, lower signature.

The dismounted soldier's power problem

The modern soldier is electronic: radios, GPS, night vision, thermal optics, ECM and end-user devices. On a multi-day mission that means carrying — and resupplying — several kilograms of batteries and spares. Power becomes a weight-and-logistics problem that limits how far and how long a team can operate.

What a wearable fuel cell changes

• Weight — one wearable system powers a soldier's electronics over a ~72-hour mission at under ~2.7 kg (6 lbs) including fuel, replacing a pile of batteries and spares.
• Endurance — 25–100 W continuous, for as long as fuel is supplied. Extend the mission by carrying a small cartridge, not more battery.
• Field refuel — top up in minutes from methanol or ethanol cartridges (350 ml, 1 L, 5 L, 10 L) matched to operational tempo. No pressurized tanks, no specialized handling.

Silent and low-signature — survivability

There is no combustion, no fuel pump and no engine block, so the system is near-silent at the operating point with a low thermal signature. By comparison, diesel generators typically produce 90+ dBA at 7 metres and a strong heat plume. For dismounted operations and OPSEC at forward positions, staying quiet and cool is survivability.

Works where batteries fade

Designed to operate from −32 °C to +60 °C, performance holds in arctic cold and desert heat — exactly where lithium-ion capacity collapses and crews otherwise carry even more batteries to compensate.

Multi-fuel logistics in the field

The same platform runs on hydrogen, methanol or ethanol. Where hydrogen logistics are disrupted, fall back to liquid methanol or ethanol from almost any available source. One platform, flexible fuel — fewer single points of failure in the supply tail.

Built for defense procurement

LEC provides MIL-STD and STANAG compliance support, and as an EU company based in Finland is positioned for allied and NATO-aligned procurement. The Soldier Wearable Power System is one of three initial products, alongside the portable field generator and UAV power pack — see our defense solutions.

Frequently asked questions

How much weight does it actually save? The wearable system powers a soldier's electronics over a 72-hour mission at under 2.7 kg including fuel — replacing the battery pack and the spares a multi-day mission otherwise requires.

What does it power? Radios, night-vision devices, GPS, thermal optics, ECM and other end-user electronics — 25–100 W continuous.

How do you refuel in the field? Swap or top up a methanol/ethanol cartridge (350 ml–10 L) in minutes. The multi-fuel design lets you fall back to liquid fuel when hydrogen logistics aren't available.

Is it quiet enough for dismounted operations? Yes — near-silent at the operating point with a low thermal signature, versus 90+ dBA for a diesel generator. That is operationally meaningful for OPSEC.

Talk to our team

Evaluating power for a soldier system or a defense program? See our defense solutions, read the complete guide to multi-fuel PEM fuel cells, or get in touch.