Raekor's early success

RAEKOR’s core cooling technology has been proven to work well, especially during the hottest summer on record in Central Texas.  During a 100+ degree day in Austin, Texas, RAEKOR's customer, the 343d Training Squadron (Special Warfare), requested a fully cooled and integrated "aid station in a box" for medics to prevent and treat heat injuries at the point of injury in the Camp Bullis austere training environments.  The concept is an inflatable tent with integrated evaporative cooling that can be operated for four hours on a single 1kw/hour battery so medics can pull heat injury symptomatic trainees out of the heat and sun in order to safely recover.  This product requires a two-person lift due to size and weight of the case also containing a full-size tent with inflators and other support equipment.  As a proof of concept, this prototype was outfitted with an extra fan that reduced the battery life to about 50% (2 hours) but also allowed for “ECU-like” cooling capability pushing 1,950 cfm of cooled airflow for over 4 tons a/c equivalent for the tent using less than 600 watts.    This is the natural self-regulating feature of evaporative cooling where it is most effective during the heat of the day.

In March 2024, the US Army contracted RAEKOR to explore using their core cooling technology for tactical shelters (tents) in austere conditions. By reducing the need for heavy equipment such as prime movers, field forklifts, and generators to haul, emplace and power current field air conditioners (ECUs), RAEKOR can provide Combatant Commanders more agility, flexibility and lethality on the battlefield. Additionally, the greatly reduced demand for power and other support equipment alleviates the burden of fuel and parts logistics better untethers Combatant Commanders from supply chains.

The US Air Force recently awarded RAEKOR a Phase II to develop an ultra-lightweight, ultra-portable, battery-powered evaporative cooler in the form factor of a rifle case to assist in preventing and treating heat injuries at the point of injury. RAEKOR’s small form factor allows a cooler to be carried anywhere a Warfighter can walk, enabling localized cool as needed based on environmental conditions. RAEKOR’s cooler can also be integrated into opportunistic shelters on a battlefield allowing rest and recuperation without need for heavy equipment. The USAF 59th Medical Wing’s Medical Readiness Training Center at JSBA Bullis is sponsoring this effort and is providing significant input on Warfighter requirements.