Composites Use in Military & Defense
One of the main drivers of composites use in defense-related structures – such as components for fighter jets and other aircraft, weapons systems, and to some extent land- and water-based vehicles – is the high temperatures and harsh conditions in which these applications are used. Composite materials also offer high impact resistance, light weight and corrosion resistance needed for work in the field.
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REGEN recycling project is selected by European Defense Agency
Recycler Uplift360 along with its three partners will play a critical role in innovating the recovery and reuse of continuous aramid fibers to drive composites circularity in defense.
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Composites repair tools and services deliver reliable support to aerospace, defense and MRO
CAMX 2025: Dual-zone hot bonders and multizone composite repair systems are a couple product options featured by Heatcon that offer flexible repair of composite structures in diverse scenarios.
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Continuous Composites, Aurora Flight Sciences advance launched effect structures
Under an awarded U.S. Army SBIR, this initiative will reimagine the internal architecture of fuselage structures for launch effects, aided through CCI’s CF3D tech.
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What you might have missed at Paris Air Show 2025
A surge in defense spending, partnerships in hydrogen propulsion and new combat aircraft agreements, many backed by composites industry leaders, culminated the 55th Paris Air Show.
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Carbitex flexible composites enter tactical boot market
Flexible footwear plates provide enhanced performance and stability for Prabos footwear serving military and law enforcement professionals.
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Angels Aircraft launches pre-seed round to build Archangel UAV
First scalable, flight-ready prototype will incorporate high-rate composites manufacturing, a blended wing airframe and an autonomy-first architecture.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
Discover the types of sensors being used in composites, the physics on which they�re based, their installation, promised benefits and challenges, as well as the potential they offer for even further developments in smart structures.
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CW’s editors are tracking the latest trends and developments in tooling, from the basics to new developments. This collection, presented by Composites One, features four recent CW stories that detail a range of tooling technologies, processes and materials.
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This CW Tech Days event will explore the technologies, materials, and strategies that can help composites manufacturers become more sustainable.
LEARN MORELatest Defense News And Updates
Vivace delivers fuel tank hardware for Talon-A test vehicles
In its partnership with Stratolaunch to advance U.S. hypersonic capabilities, Vivace has provided both composite and metal tanks for the TA-1 and TA-2 in the past year.
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Agile Ultrasonics breaks new ground for ultrasonic composites welding in space manufacturing
Continuous ultrasonic welding (CUW) innovation presents the flexibility crucial for future lunar and deep-space missions, but also for composites joining in defense and commercial aerospace.
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Velocity Composites reinforces key defense partnership with major defense contact renewal
Under a three-year extension, Velocity will continue supplying process material kits for major defense projects for the OEM, reaffirming its broader strategic direction within the sector.
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Hexcel, Specialty Materials launch boron fiber-infused high modulus carbon fiber
High-compression, hybridized unidirectional prepreg targets advanced commercial and military application opportunities.
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Syensqo composites demonstrate titanium replacement on Boeing MQ-25 Stingray
Validation of integrating Cycom 5250-4HT prepreg into the UAV’s exhaust nozzle structure underpins the material system’s use in other high-temperature aerospace applications.
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U.S. Navy contract to advance Cambium C/C composites for hypersonics
Cambium aims to further optimize its phthalonitrile-based thermal protection portfolio to create a secure domestic supply for U.S. hypersonics.
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Featured Posts
From prototypes to performance: Composites company makes inroads into new markets
Top Shops 2024 honoree Calian’s composites division blends R&D, rapid prototyping and scalable production with deep engineering integration and corporate synergy.
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Near-zero erosion ultra-high temperature CMC
K3RX commercializes UHTCMC for a wide range of markets, demonstrating performance in prototypes, assemblies and advancing manufacturing to reduce cost.
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A return to the Space Symposium: Charting the next frontier
Since 2019 the space sector has been on a rapid upward trajectory. This year’s Space Symposium delivered that same optimism, celebrating the community’s continued proliferation, even as political and financial uncertainty raise new questions.
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JEC World 2025 highlights: Trends in aerospace, new space and defense
CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis discusses trends in aerospace on display at JEC World — as the composites industry awaits a new single aisle aircraft program, the industry puts continued focus on new space, defense, UAM.
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The AAMMC Tech Hub: Ramping U.S. production of large thermoplastic composite aerostructures
CW talks with Syensqo, Spirit AeroSystems and other consortia members about current funding, specification of the next world’s largest press, organizational structure and projects to support U.S. companies in the race to deliver >40,000 sustainable and efficient aircraft over the next 20 years.
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Carbeon C/C-SiC ceramic matrix composites without fiber coating
Dutch startup Arceon is working with leaders in space, hypersonics and industry to test its Carbeon CMC, validating near-net-shape parts with <3% porosity and performance at 1600ºC, targeting UHTCMC and a presence in the U.S. in 2025.
Read MoreFAQ: Defense
How are composites used in the defense market?
Composites can be used to lightweight defense aircraft and other vehicles, increasing range or allowing higher payloads.
Ultra-high temperature (UHT) composite materials can also be tailored to withstand harsh environments and high temperatures, or to be antiballistic. Research and production of ultra-high temperature (UHT) ceramic matrix composites (CMC), with melting points of 2,500°C (4,532°F) or higher, has ebbed and flowed over the years, following rising and falling demand for applications like hypersonic defense systems and space launch vehicles.
Source: Lockheed Martin expands development, production of ultra-high temp CMCs with facility expansion
Can composite materials be antiballistic?
New materials cntinue to be developed for use as bullet-proof armor for vehicles, infrastructure and equipment.
Historically, antiballistic material designers have preferred tough but expensive aramids, high-density polyethylenes and the like, passing over conventional E-glass as too brittle to have ballistic stopping power.
Proprietary additives and resin systems have enabled the development of bullet-proof fiberglass materials. 3D weaving of carbon fiber, fiberglass or other composite materials can also help to develop high-strength preforms for use as armor materials or molded panels.
