NUE solar trailer deployed beside a truck at a forward site
FOB power knowledge base · 2026

Forward Operating Base (FOB) Power SolutionsPower the base.
Not the convoy.

How to power a forward operating base without a single loud, fuel-hungry generator: daily loads, sized configurations from a 4-person patrol base to a 50-person FOB, the NUE Trailer, solar, medical, EW, Arctic and desert operations. Built on 200+ combat missions powered in Ukraine.

Jump to the 18 answers →Shop FOB kits
200+combat missions powered in Ukraine
30+Ukrainian brigades equipped with NUE
15+medical stabilization points
20+U.S. and NATO programs validated
The FOB power index

18 questions base planners ask.

For engineers, S4 shops, base planners and contractors. Every answer opens with a direct, quotable sentence, then the numbers to plan with.

Why it matters

The generator is the target.

A FOB generator runs around the clock. It is loud, it glows on thermal, it needs a fuel convoy, and one mortar round or mechanical fault takes the whole base dark.

Distributed battery power changes the math. Silent SunCase units spread across the base, recharged by solar and vehicles, keep comms, lighting, medical and security running, with no single point of failure. NUE systems have powered 200+ combat missions in Ukraine, from patrol bases to underground aid stations.

A destroyed generator at a forward position
Single point of failureOne hit and the base goes dark.
SunCase 3651 with a solar panel at an outpost
Distributed powerSilent, solar-recharged, spread out.
Stacked SunCase units forming an energy node in the field
Energy nodeDaisy-chain up to 4 units for 20 kWh.
FOB power 101

What a base really draws.

FOB power scales with headcount and mission. Start with the daily energy, then size battery, solar and backup around it.

Question 01

How much power does a forward operating base need?

A 4-person patrol base needs about 2,000–4,000 Wh per day, a 12-person company outpost 8,000–15,000 Wh, and a 50-person FOB with full comms, lighting, medical and water purification 40,000–80,000 Wh. NUE recommends meeting that with distributed SunCase units and solar rather than one centralized generator.

Base sizeDaily energy
4-person patrol base / OP2,000–4,000 Wh
12-person company outpost (COP)8,000–15,000 Wh
50-person FOB (full comms, lighting, medical, water)40,000–80,000 Wh
Question 02

What does a FOB actually need to power?

A FOB powers nine core functions: the TOC comms suite, perimeter security, lighting, the medical bay, drone operations, water purification, vehicle maintenance, setup equipment and the field kitchen. Comms, security, lighting and medical are mission-critical and must never drop.

FunctionTypical loadDaily energyCriticality
TOC comms suite (radios, Starlink, networking, laptops)400–800 W avg10,000–18,000 WhMission-critical
Perimeter security (cameras, motion sensors, alarms)150–300 W avg3,500–7,000 WhMission-critical
Lighting (LED tactical, interior)200–500 W avg2,000–6,000 WhMission-critical at night
Medical bay (monitors, lighting, refrigeration)300–800 W avg5,000–15,000 WhLife safety
Drone team operationsVaries2,000–4,000 Wh per teamMission-critical
Water purification (small unit)500–1,500 W intermittent3,000–8,000 WhSustainability
Vehicle maintenance / power tools1,000–2,000 W intermittent4,000–10,000 WhOperational
Tent inflation / setup600–1,200 W brief~500 WhSetup
Field kitchen (small appliances)500–1,500 W intermittent3,000–8,000 WhQuality of life

Planning figures; build your own load list from nameplate and measured data.

Question 03

Why does distributed battery power beat a single FOB generator?

Distributed battery power beats a single generator because one lost unit leaves the rest of the base running, it is silent with minimal thermal signature, it needs no fuel convoy, it is safe indoors and underground, and it scales by adding units.

FactorSingle diesel generatorDistributed SunCaseâ„¢ + solar
Single point of failureOne mortar or fault takes the base darkOne lost unit leaves the rest running
Acoustic / thermal signatureBroadcasts position 24/7Silent, minimal IR
Fuel resupplyConvoy required; vulnerable; expensiveSolar, vehicle DC, occasional grid top-up
Indoor / undergroundUnsafe; requires ventingSafe in trenches, bunkers, underground medical
MaintenanceOil, filters, fuel, mechanical serviceMinimal; no moving parts
ScalabilityBuy a bigger generatorAdd units; daisy-chain up to 4 = 20 kWh
Hot-swapGenerator down = base downReplace a unit without dropping the load (UPS)
Sized configurations

From 4 people to 50.

Three proven tiers, each built from the same SunCase building blocks, so a base can grow without changing its power system.

Tier 1 · 4 peoplePatrol base / OP2,000–4,000 Wh/day
  • 1 × SunCase 2425 (2.5 kWh)
  • 1 × NUESolar 150 panel (600–750 Wh/day)
  • Optional 1 × SunCase 605 backup or dismount carry

Indefinite in any daylight theater; recharges from vehicle DC on patrol return.

Tier 2 · 12 peopleCompany outpost (COP)8,000–15,000 Wh/day
  • 2 × SunCase 3651 (10 kWh daisy-chained)
  • 2–3 × NUESolar 150 panels (1,200–2,250 Wh/day)
  • 1 × SunCase 1213 for medical, mobile or contingency

Continuous with solar; AC top-up only in multi-day overcast.

Tier 3 · 50 peopleCompany-level FOB40,000–80,000 Wh/day
  • NUE Trailer NUE-12 or NUE-15 (~40 kWh, 24–30 kW loads)
  • 4–6 × SunCase 3651
  • 8–12 × NUESolar 150 panels
  • SunCase 605 / 1213 for patrols and drone teams

Solar-regenerative; diesel kept only as deep backup.

Question 04

Can a SunCase replace the generator at a 4-person patrol base?

Yes. A SunCase 2425 with a NUESolar 150 panel covers a 4-person patrol base’s 2,000–4,000 Wh daily load indefinitely in daylight theaters, and it is one of NUE’s most deployed setups in Ukraine.

It powers radios, ATAK devices, one Starlink, navigation, NVG and optic charging, and small lighting. Add a SunCase 605 as a backup or to carry on dismounted patrols.

Question 05

How do you power a 12-person company outpost (COP)?

Power a 12-person COP with two daisy-chained SunCase 3651s (10 kWh), two or three NUESolar 150 panels (1,200–2,250 Wh/day) and a SunCase 1213 for medical, mobile or contingency use. That covers 8,000–15,000 Wh per day of multi-radio comms, two Starlinks, drone operations, perimeter sensors, LED lighting, basic medical and power tools.

Question 06

How do you power a 50-person company-level FOB?

Power a 50-person FOB with an NUE Trailer (NUE-12 or NUE-15, about 40 kWh and 24,000–30,000 W of load capacity), four to six SunCase 3651s distributed to critical functions, eight to twelve NUESolar 150 panels, and SunCase 605 / 1213 units for patrols and drone teams. The base becomes solar-regenerative, with diesel held only as deep backup.

Design the base as a set of independent power islands: TOC, medical, security and billets each on their own battery. See modular power systems for deployable command centers.

NUE solar trailer with a large deployed array
The NUE Trailer

Battalion-scale power, towed in.

The NUE Trailer brings 20.5 to 40.9 kWh and 12,000 to 30,000 W of continuous load to the FOB, with the same LiFePO4 prismatic cells, multi-source recharging and EMI shielding as the SunCase.

40.9 kWhstorage (NUE-9 / 12 / 15)
30 kWcontinuous load (NUE-15)
LiFePO4prismatic cells, EMI-shielded
Question 07

What is the NUE Trailer, and when do you need battalion-scale power?

The NUE Trailer is a towable battery power plant with 20.5–40.9 kWh of storage and 12,000–30,000 W of continuous output. You need it when a base runs high-draw loads such as full TOC suites, cooling, water purification, vehicle maintenance or stand-off EW that a SunCase stack can’t carry alone.

ModelCapacityContinuous loadBest for
NUE-620,480 Wh (20.5 kWh)12,000 WSmall COP, mobile field hospital, comms relay
NUE-940,960 Wh (40.9 kWh)18,000 WCompany FOB, vehicle maintenance bay
NUE-1240,960 Wh (40.9 kWh)24,000 WMid-size FOB with full TOC
NUE-1540,960 Wh (40.9 kWh)30,000 WBattalion-level FOB with cooling and water purification

Trailers are quoted to order. Request a trailer quote →

Question 12

How long can FOB power run electronic warfare and counter-UAS systems?

An NUE Trailer runs a 500 W WiSP lightweight EW system for about 41 hours on an NUE-6 and 82 hours on the larger trailers, a 340 W LRCT for 60–120 hours, and a 900 W Pulsar for 23–46 hours. For larger brigade coverage, three stacked SunCase 3651s (15 kWh) have powered jamming over a 20 km radius in Ukraine.

EW loadAvg wattsNUE-6NUE-9NUE-12NUE-15
WiSP (lightweight EW)500 W40.96 h81.92 h81.92 h81.92 h
LRCT340 W60.24 h120.47 h120.47 h120.47 h
Pulsar900 W22.76 h45.51 h45.51 h45.51 h
LRST Block 13,500 W3.43 h5.14 h6.86 h8.57 h
LRST Block 21,400 W8.57 h12.86 h17.14 h—

NUE-published runtimes. More on C-UAS power: drone & counter-UAS operations.

Fuel, solar & resilience

Every gallon not hauled is a convoy not hit.

Fuel is the heaviest, most dangerous thing a FOB consumes. Batteries and solar cut it at the source.

Question 08

How much fuel and money does battery-plus-solar save at a FOB?

A 5 kW generator running 12 hours a day burns roughly 4–6 gallons of fuel daily, and DoD has historically estimated delivered fuel downrange at $400+ per gallon once convoy and security costs are included, so replacing one small generator with battery-plus-solar can avoid on the order of $1,600–2,400 of fully burdened fuel cost per day.

Per day4–6 gallons

One 5 kW generator, 12 hours a day.

Fully burdened$400+ per gallon

Historic DoD downrange estimate including convoy and security.

Per generator~$1,600–2,400 a day

Illustrative avoided cost (4–6 gal × $400), before maintenance and risk to convoys.

Question 09

How much solar does a FOB need?

Size FOB solar by dividing the daily load by what each panel returns per day: a NUESolar 150 delivers about 600–750 Wh per day, so a 12-person COP at 8,000–15,000 Wh uses two to three panels to cover most of its daytime load, with the batteries and occasional AC top-ups carrying the rest, and a 50-person FOB uses eight to twelve panels alongside a trailer.

Solar harvest varies with latitude, season and weather; plan a margin for overcast days. Panel guidance: military solar gear guide.

Question 13

What happens if one battery unit fails?

If one unit fails, the rest of the stack keeps carrying the load: up to four SunCase units daisy-chain to 20 kWh with 20 ms UPS transfer and hot-swap capability, so a depleted or damaged unit can be replaced without dropping power.

That is the core advantage over a single generator. See uninterruptible power supply options for tactical communications.

Question 14

Should a FOB keep a diesel generator?

Keep diesel only as deep backup: let batteries and solar carry the base day to day, and run the generator briefly, if at all, to top up batteries during long overcast periods, so it runs at its most efficient load instead of idling around the clock.

This hybrid approach cuts fuel, noise and maintenance while keeping a fallback. Compare options in fuel cells vs battery packs for remote deployments.

Critical loads

The loads that can never go dark.

Medical, security and EW are where a power failure costs lives, so they get dedicated, protected power.

SunCase inside an ambulance powering medical equipment and jammers
MedicalBattery-only is the safe option underground.
Medic seated with a SunCase 2425
Field hospitalsChernihiv and Zaporizhzhia, through grid outages.
Anti-drone jammer mast in winter
EW & C-UASJammers on silent battery power.
Question 10

How do you power a FOB medical bay or underground aid station?

Power a FOB medical bay on dedicated battery power sized for 5,000–15,000 Wh per day of monitors, lighting and refrigeration, and use battery-only power underground, where generators are unsafe because of carbon monoxide. NUE powers 15+ medical stabilization points, including underground aid stations and the Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia field hospitals.

Give medical its own SunCase so it never competes with other loads, and keep a SunCase 1213 ready for mobile or contingency care.

Question 11

How do you power FOB perimeter security?

Power FOB perimeter security (cameras, motion sensors and alarms) with distributed battery units at each sensor cluster, sized for 150–300 W average and 3,500–7,000 Wh per day, so no single failure blinds the perimeter. NUE has supported perimeter security for the Washington Air National Guard.

Batteries at the perimeter also remove the need to run long cables or a generator at the wire.

SunStealth cover masking SunCase units at a field position
Climate & signature

Arctic to desert. Seen by no one.

Cold drains batteries, heat stresses them, and both change how equipment shows up on thermal. FOB power has to be engineered for all three.

−40°FSunCase Arctic variant
0engine noise or exhaust
No glassmilitary panels don’t reflect or shatter
Question 15

How do you power an Arctic FOB at −40°?

The SunCase Arctic variant operates to −40°F (−40°C) using cell heating elements and space-derived insulation, technology NUE first engineered for telecom batteries at −40°C, and is available for Arctic FOB deployment in the NORTHCOM and EUCOM areas of responsibility.

In the cold, keep batteries off frozen ground, insulate them, and plan for shorter solar days. Detailed guidance: selecting portable power for extreme environments.

Question 16

How do you power a FOB in desert heat?

In desert heat, shade batteries and inverters, give them airflow, and use the heat to your advantage: SunCase heat blends with warm ambient temperatures and is easy to mask under tarps or overhead concealment.

Long, intense sun also means more solar harvest, so desert FOBs can often run fully on battery-plus-solar.

Question 17

How do you manage a FOB’s thermal signature?

Manage a FOB’s thermal signature by replacing generators with batteries, masking battery stacks under tarps or cloaking cases, and placing solar panels at a distance from the battery stack in high-threat settings. In cold climates, battery heat contrasts with cold ground, so higher-threat sites may need a cloaking case, which NUE has demonstrated.

NUE military-grade panels don’t reflect or shatter like glass. Thermal mitigation on panels is possible but reduces output. See SunStealth.

Question 18

How fast can FOB power be set up and scaled?

SunCase power sets up in minutes: carry or wheel the units into place, connect solar and loads, and the base is powered, with no fueling or warm-up. To scale, daisy-chain up to four SunCase units for 20 kWh, add panels, or tow in an NUE Trailer for 20.5–40.9 kWh.

Plan for setup loads too: tent inflation draws 600–1,200 W briefly, about 500 Wh in total. On altitude: LiFePO4 cells are not pressure-sensitive at operational altitudes; MIL-STD-810 Method 500.6 (low pressure) is on NUE’s compliance roadmap, not yet certified.

Deployments

Already running at the edge.

From Ukrainian front-line bases to U.S. and allied units, NUE power is in the field today.

DeploymentBakhmut TOC

TOC comms during active combat.

DeploymentUnderground aid stations

Medical stabilization points where battery-only is the only safe option.

DeploymentChernihiv & Zaporizhzhia

Field hospitals sustained through grid disruption.

DeploymentFairchild AFB

Comms Squadron portable 5G and SERE-training EW trials.

DeploymentWA Air National Guard

Perimeter security.

DeploymentU.S. Naval Academy

Multi-year drone exercise power with technology partners.

DeploymentU.S. Army & Marines

2nd Marine Division, 25th ID (Hawaii), 1st Armored Division, 7th ID Alaska, Ft. Huachuca MI units.

DeploymentAllied forces

British Army UAS teams, Italian Army paratroopers, Estonian autonomous weapons program.

DeploymentUkraine

200+ combat missions and 30+ brigades equipped.

Shop FOB power

Build the base in kits.

Each tier as a pre-matched bundle at published prices. GPC accepted. NUE Trailers and NUESolar arrays are quoted to order: talk to an engineer.

FOB kit

Patrol base kit

Tier 1: a 4-person patrol base or OP, indefinitely in daylight.

  • 1 × SunCaseâ„¢ 2425$3,200
  • 1 × SunFold 240 W panel$470
  • 1 × SunCaseâ„¢ 605$890
Kit total$4,560
FOB kit

Company outpost kit

Tier 2: a 12-person COP with 10 kWh daisy-chained.

  • 2 × SunCaseâ„¢ 3651$9,800
  • 1 × SunCaseâ„¢ 1213$1,390
  • 3 × SunFold 240 W panel$1,410
Kit total$12,600
FOB kit

FOB power node

Tier 3 building block: four 3651s for 20 kWh. Pair with a trailer for a full FOB.

  • 4 × SunCaseâ„¢ 3651$19,600
  • 8 × SunFold 240 W panel$3,760
Kit total$23,360
Individual operator / drone team
SunCaseâ„¢ 605
Output
600 W pure sine
Storage
~550 Wh LiFePO4
Weight
16 lb (7 kg)
Solar in
400 W MPPT, 13–100 V

Ruck-portable, IP55, AC + USB-A + USB-C + 12 V DC. Recharges from solar, AC or vehicle.

View SunCaseâ„¢ 605Get a configured quote
FOB FAQ

Quick answers.

Can a SunCase replace the generator at a 4-person patrol base?
Yes. A SunCase 2425 with a NUESolar 150 panel covers it indefinitely in daylight; it is one of NUE’s most deployed setups in Ukraine.
How much fuel does battery + solar save?
DoD has historically estimated downrange fuel at $400+ per gallon including convoy and security. A 5 kW generator running 12 hours a day uses roughly 4–6 gallons daily.
What happens if one stacked unit fails?
The remaining stack keeps carrying the load. Up to 4 units daisy-chain to 20 kWh with 20 ms UPS transfer and hot-swap capability.
Can a SunCase 3651 power Starlink long-term?
Yes. Starlink averages about 100 W, so one 3651 (5 kWh) runs it for about 50 hours; with one NUESolar 150 panel it runs continuously in daylight.
What is the largest configuration deployed?
Three stacked SunCase 3651 units (15 kWh) powered brigade-level jamming over a 20 km radius in Ukraine. The NUE-15 trailer provides 40.9 kWh with 30,000 W load capacity.
Does SunCase work at altitude?
Yes. LiFePO4 cells are not pressure-sensitive at operational altitudes, and the enclosure is rated for mountain operations. MIL-STD-810 Method 500.6 (low pressure / altitude) is on the compliance roadmap, not yet certified.

Related: Military portable power · Tactical comms & C4ISR · Drone & counter-UAS · Field Guide · Buyer’s Guide

NUE Defense & Tactical Power 2026 brochure
Defense & Tactical Power · 2026 brochure

FOB sizing, in your pocket.

The full SunCase lineup, trailer and solar options, runtime tables and an order checklist.

Download the PDF →Mail me a printed copy
Base planners · engineers · S4 shops · contractors

Power the base.

Send us your headcount, mission and loads. We’ll size the SunCase™, solar, trailer and stealth configuration and quote it as one plan.

Talk to a FOB power engineer+1 (844) 941-3476