The U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has awarded a $4.9 million contract to AVL Engineering and Achates Power Inc. to design and build a demonstrator engine as part of the military's Next-Generation Engine program intended for a wide range of combat and tactical vehicles. In its contract proposal, AVL said the engine would be based on Achates’ opposed-piston two-stroke technology. It will be multi-fuel-capable, per TARDEC's requirements. In developing its base engine technology, Achates has accumulated more than 3600 h of dynamometer testing, achieving 47.5% brake thermal efficiency, the company claims. The advantages demonstrated thus far are published in SAE International technical paper 2011-01-2216 and include leaner, faster, and earlier combustion and greater package efficiency, compared with current-generation diesels. AVL and Achates expect the engine's final design phase to be underway "over the next few years."