Defence Notes
SGA2012: Israeli manufacturer lightens the load
Israeli company Kanfit used the Singapore Airshow to showcase its hybrid metal and composite material that significantly reduces the weight of military components.
Shachar Fine, director of business development for the company, told Shephard that the hybrid structure combines a metal frame with composite banners to produce a material that is some 20% lighter than traditional material that aircraft parts are manufactured from.
'The technology is generic and can be applied to any aircraft,' Fine explained. 'Our one piece solutions provide a much superior structure.'
The company used resin transfer moulding (RTM) technology to develop the products, and they are built to specification as a seamless unit.
Products include: guided gliding bombs, UAV engine covers, RTM antennas, satellite dishes, and chaff & flare magazines. The company's 'ultra-strong' chaff & flare magazines have no failure points, according to the company, because there are no seams, welding, or assembly required.
The material means that products are 'exceptionally' lightweight, less sensitive to temperature changes, have a small radar footprint, and are able to 'withstand the most extreme weather conditions during flight', the company said.
Customers include Boeing Military Aircraft, Elbit and AgustaWestland, and Kanfit acts as a second or third party on contracts with the OEMs.
Fine also said the Singapore Air Force has the material on its F-16, and the company is interested in applying this technology to medical products and has R&D projects in this area.
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