The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has awarded a contract to AlumiFuel Power to deliver a PBIS-2000 Portable Balloon Inflation System.

Under the contract, the company will also supply 360 cartridges as well as a spare parts kit, a tool kit and two days of training at the AFSOC site.

The PBIS-2000 generates hydrogen that can inflate a 200g weather balloon within 20 minutes using up to six cartridges contained in a single reactor vessel.

The PBIS family will allow the air force to launch weather balloons in remote locations and reduce the cost and difficulty of transporting the source of lift gas.

The system will be delivered by the end of February 2012.