Space and Defense
Hexcel is a leader in the Space & Defense market, primarily in the manufacture of advanced composites used in commercial helicopters and in military aircraft. We are currently qualified to supply materials to a broad range of more than 100 helicopter, military aircraft and space programs.
Our top 10 programs by revenues represent about 56% of our Space & Defense revenues. Key programs include the F-35 (joint strike fighter or JSF), Sikorsky CH53K King Stallion, V-22 (Osprey) tilt rotor aircraft, UH60M Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache, A400M military transport, European Fighter Aircraft (Typhoon), F/A-18E/F (Hornet), Rafale fighter jet, and MH90 Enforcer. Space applications for advanced composites include solid rocket booster cases, fairings and payload doors for launch vehicles, and buss and solar arrays for military and commercial satellites.
Hexcel also is a leader in producing advanced composites for helicopter blades. Numerous new helicopter programs in development, as well as upgrade or retrofit programs, have an increased reliance on composite materials products such as carbon fiber, prepregs, and honeycomb core to improve blade performance.
