Graphene To Be New Star Of Defense Manufacturing

The European Defense Agency (EDA) is investigating a new material, Graphene, for application including camouflage and composites.

Graphene is a a new material with a range of lightweight, high strength, thermal and electrical conductivity and it is expected to lead improved applications for defence, the EDA announced Thursday. 

Graphene has many potential applications interesting for defence such as advance camouflage systems and lighter or stronger protections.

About 25 experts from Ministries of Defence, European entities, industry and academia participated in an EDA workshop to discuss current and future areas of application of graphene in defence at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) in Linköping on 2 June.

The objective of the workshop was to gather experts in related fields to discuss possible future defence applications and areas of applicability of graphene technologies.

The discussion was focused on how to enhance composites and coatings by including graphene and on its possible use in adaptive camouflage, due to its thermal and electrical conductivity properties, and protection systems, based on its strength and low weight.

The outcomes of the workshop will be further analysed to identify how graphene technology can support the EDA Capability Development Plan (CDP), taking into account the Materials & Structures CapTech Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), and if possible, to create a technology roadmap towards achieving the required maturity of graphene based applications for defence.