Military

Military-grade composites are used in a number of applications for their low weight, long life and ability to help protect people and equipment from harm. Aerial drones, armored fighting vehicles, submarines and body armor can contain composites materials.

Air Force Research Laboratory Revisits OOA/OOO

John RussellTechnical Director, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies Division, Air Force Research Laboratory In the latest issue of Composites Manufacturing, we discussed the future of...

The U.S. Army is developing a micro-composite to 3D print various devices in the field.

U.S. Army Develops Micro-Composite to 3D Print Real Devices, Not Prototypes

Traditionally, 3D printing has relied on materials like polymers and has been used primarily for prototyping. Now, researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory hope to develop strong and lightweight...

The U.S. Navy successfully tested radar-absorbing carbon fiber clouds

U.S. Navy Successfully Tests Radar-Absorbing Carbon Fiber Clouds

Carbon fiber’s potential can go far beyond a solid piece of infrastructure, as the U.S. 7th Fleet and the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) demonstrated this June. The Navy tested “Pandarra Fog,” a...

4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division received its first UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters at Butts Army Airfield in Fort Carson, Colo., Jan. 20, 2013.

US Army Addresses Helicopter Lightweighting

Sustainment and modernization of legacy aviation fleets are continual efforts for the U.S. Army aviation community. Performance enhancements such as lightweighting structures and components present significant...

Chemist Stephanie Kwolek dies at 90

Stephanie L. Kwolek, a chemist known for developing Kevlar fiber used in bullet-proof gear died at age 90 on June 18 at a hospice in Wilmington, Del. The cause of death is currently unknown. Kwolek earned a...

Scorpion Soars with Composites

When Textron AirLand LLC, a joint venture between Textron Inc. and AirLand Enterprises LLC, was established to rapidly design and manufacture an affordable, versatile, tactical military jet, common wisdom was...