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.

A return to the Space Symposium: Charting the next frontier
Defense

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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Latest Defense Articles

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Defense

Materion metal matrix composites are selected for FLRAA prototypes

Bell Textron is equipping the U.S. Army’s tiltrotor prototype with lightweight materials to further enhance its speed and payload capabilities in operation.

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Hi-Temp Resins

Call for abstracts: CW Tech Days to explore high-temperature composite solutions

The fall 2025 installment of CW’s Tech Days online event series will cover high-temperature composite solutions for defense and space applications.

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Defense

BAE Systems honors Polar Technology with Gold Tier award

Quality and delivery of structural composite elements for defense helmet is highlighted in Partner 2 Win program.

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Defense

Integris to provide composite ballistic protection for Type 45 vessels

Integris Composites enters its fourth decade serving aerospace OEMs and defense contractors globally for critical defense systems.

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Sustainability

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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Defense

MARS Center milestone powers U.S. hypersonics innovation, workforce development

Utah leaders celebrate the culmination of federal, academic and industry players through MARS, accelerating materials and manufacturing concepts to real-world applications, from thermal protection systems to composites.

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Knowledge Centers

ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ Collections
ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ Collections

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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Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures
Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures

Review the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.

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CW Tech Days
CW Tech Days

During CW Tech Days: Thermoplastics for Large Structures, experts explored the materials and processing technologies that are enabling the transition to large-part manufacturing.

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Latest Defense News And Updates

Defense

AMD to open U.S. subsidiary for defense, aerospace nanotechnology

AMD Inc., based in Austin, Texas, has a broad license to all parent company IP and will continue to invest in R&D projects with the group’s existing university partners.

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Aerospace

ZeroAvia is awarded U.S. Air Force grant for autonomous hydrogen-electric aircraft

ZeroAvia will analyze the potential for developing and delivering an autonomous aircraft with hydrogen-electric propulsion for reduced engine noise and low thermal signature.

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Defense

Gurit re-signs long-term supply contract with U.S. Marine Inc.

Multiyear defense contract continuing support for technical composite innovations upholds Gurit’s multi-market strategy.

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Defense

Sonae Capital Industrials acquires majority stake in BeyondComposite

Investment will boost BeyondComposite’s growth strategy and enhance its composites operations in Portugal and internationally.

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MATECH, Cal Nano aim to commercialize UHT composites

The partnership’s combined technological advances and manufacturing prowess will target the scale-up and industrialization of FAST SPS for high-temp and UHT composites serving aviation, defense.

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Aerospace

Janicki Industries earns second consecutive Northrop Grumman supplier award

The privately-owned engineering and manufacturing company continues to support the supply and delivery of innovative, cost-effective defense and space technologies.

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Featured Posts

Thermoplastics

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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Aerospace

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.

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Aerospace

Composites business growth through diversification, innovation

San Diego-based 2024 Top Shops qualifier Rock West Composites gives an overview of its relentless commitment to improvement, including its composite capabilities and its role as a trusted player in the space market.

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Defense

“Structured air” TPS safeguards composite structures

Powered by an 85% air/15% pure polyimide aerogel, Blueshift’s novel material system protects structures during transient thermal events from -200°C to beyond 2400°C for rockets, battery boxes and more.

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Carbon Fibers

Pull-wound carbon fiber poles enable lightweight, compact, rigid emergency stretcher

Based on military feedback, Epsilon Composite developed an optimized, foldable stretcher that combines telescopic pull-wound carbon fiber tubes.

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Industrializing additive manufacturing in the defense/aerospace sector

GA-ASI demonstrates a path forward for the use of additive technologies for composite tooling, flight-qualified parts.  

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FAQ: 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.

Source: Antiballistics: Better defense, less expense