Composite materials, which are made up of two or more separate and usually dissimilar component materials, are used for a wide variety of military and defense applications. Examples of these materials include carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), aramid fiber-reinforced plastics (AFRPs), and glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRPs).
Composite Containers for JDAM, Guidance Kits & Ground Support by PRC Composites
Composite materials provide a number of advantages for military and defense applications. They provide a higher strength-to-weight ratio than traditional materials such as steel, so their use can allow vehicles to be more maneuverable, less bulky, and more fuel-efficient. Aircraft using military-grade composites will be able to carry heavier payloads and fly for longer.
Composites have excellent corrosion resistance and do not rust, resulting in fewer requirements for maintenance and replacement. Many components can be designed and manufactured as a single piece, reducing part counts in complex systems, increasing production efficiency, and resulting in fewer weak points. Monitoring sensors and systems can often be easily integrated into the material.
Military composites can be engineered to provide excellent ballistic resistance, making them ideal for armor in ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval vessels. They can also be used to create body armor for soldiers and other personnel, with their light weight resulting in less fatigue for the wearer.
Composite Components
Composite components made of materials such as Kevlar can be found in a wide variety of aircraft, vehicles and platforms. Examples of these components include:
Helicopter rotors
Fuselage parts
UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) airframes
Radar panels
Flight surfaces
Seats, doors and hatches
Avionics and electronics enclosures
Composites are also often used to create packaging, handling, storage and transportation (PHST) solutions for missiles, munitions, engines, and other critical components and supplies.
HENSOLDT and Iveco Defence Vehicles’ Military Utility Vehicle (MUV) will present a modular sensor fusion platform that can be used for surveillance and reconnaissance as well as for self-protection and convoy protection
This marks a significant milestone for Elbit Systems UK’s role as the Synthetic Training Integrator, and is a key step in the modernization of the Royal Navy’s training as part of the Selborne Program
The tests confirmed that the Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is capable of utilizing both steel and composite rubber tracks, allowing armies to configure the vehicle to meet operational needs
CCP Gransden, Thales, and Ulster University will collaborate to replace an existing metallic canister with an advanced composite canister in a specialist defense product for a Defense Technology Exploitation Program (DTEP) approved project
Qarbon Aerospace is participating in a thermoplastic composite repair project focused on expedient field repair of thermoplastic structures for aerospace including the evaluation of various repair methods and environmental conditions
SINTX Technologies has entered two separate agreements to support the development and scale-up manufacturing of high-performance ceramic armor for use by military and law enforcement personnel, aircraft, and vehicles
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