Defense

In the defense sector, composites are no longer just "alternative materials"—they are strategic necessities for stealth, survivability, and mobility. By replacing heavy metals, these materials enable longer mission ranges and higher payloads across all domains.

1. Aerospace & Stealth
   Airframes: Modern fighters like the Lockheed Martin F-35 are over 35% composite by weight, using carbon fiber to achieve high agility and radar-absorbent properties.
   Stealth Technology: Specialized radar-absorbent materials (RAM) are integrated into composite skins to minimize radar cross-sections (RCS).
   Unmanned Systems: Drones like the MQ-9 Reaper rely almost entirely on composites to maximize fuel efficiency and loiter time.

2. Land Systems & Personal Protection
   Body Armor: High-performance fibers like DuPont Kevlar and Honeywell Spectra provide ballistic protection that is significantly lighter than steel plating.
   Vehicle Armor: "Spall liners" made of S-glass or aramid composites are used inside tanks to catch metal fragments during an impact, protecting the crew.
   Mobile Bridges: Deployable bridge systems utilize carbon fiber to remain light enough for rapid transport while supporting the weight of heavy armor.

3. Naval & Subsurface
   Non-Magnetic Hulls: For mine-countermeasure vessels, Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) is used to prevent the triggering of magnetic mines.
   Submarine Components: Composites are used in sonar domes and masts because they are acoustically transparent and do not corrode in seawater