Matrix Composites, Inc. announced today the successful completion of the Navy’s latest round of long-range, land-attack projectile (LRLAP) guided-flight tests utilizing composite Radomes fabricated in their Florida-based facility.

LRLAP is a 155mm rocket-assisted guided projectile designed to support land-attack operations in conjunction with the Advanced Gun System (AGS) on DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyers. The projectile relies on the Matrix-supplied nosecone to transmit telemetry and guidance data while operating in extreme flight environments.

The Navy’s four flight tests flew accurately to a designated impact point and met test objectives for successful gun launch, rocket motor ignition and operation, GPS acquisition and terminal guidance.

The Matrix team utilized its 20 year heritage in precision RTM composites and design to develop, test, and manufacture high-quality Radomes for the program.  The Radome is manufactured with novel high-temperature cyanate ester and ceramic materials capable of enduring the extreme launch loads and aerodynamic heating while being virtually invisible to the RF transmissions needed for guidance. With the successful flight testing, the project moves closer to operational readiness. Full rate production of the Radome is expected to begin in 2015 at Matrix’s Rockledge, Florida facility.

Matrix Composites’ President David Nesbitt said, “The positive test results further demonstrates our expertise with precision closed molding and is another win for our portfolio of successful collaborations.” Nesbitt added, “I couldn’t be more proud of my team, not just for this success, but because solutions like this help provide our warfighters the tools they need to be successful.¨

Matrix Composites is a full service provider to the aerospace and defense industries with particular emphasis on critical structures fabricated with advanced non-metallic materials.  The Company has provided composite design, analysis, tooling, materials testing and manufacturing services since 1993 and has a proven track record of reliable, on-time performance.

Links:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXyH1OYuyIw

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=68924