Matrix Composites Wins Kiowa Helicopter Contract

By  //  February 16, 2013

Rockledge Firm Will Upgrade Army Aircraft

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Matrix Composites of Rockledge has won a contract from Materials Sciences Corporation to produce carbon fiber composite hardback assemblies for the U.S. Army’s Reduced Weight Missile Launcher program.

The Kiowa Warrior is a combat-proven aircraft that is safe, rugged and highly reliable, while also maintaining the highest readiness and mission capability rates of any Army helicopter currently operating in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Image courtesy of Bell Helicopter)

The project was awarded to Matrix Composites to continue the U.S.Army’s Armed Scout Helicopter and Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Offices goals for reduced weight, low cost and long life assemblies for the Kiowa Helicopter.

Matrix Composites’ Vice President Ken Swarner said, “We take pride in producing dependable products that support our military in combat operations. The lightweight composite Hardbacks for the RWML Program provide an enhanced capability to the U.S. military and demonstrates our commitment to improving our force’s effectiveness.”

Production of the hardback assemblies will be performed in Matrix Composites’ Rockledge manufacturing plant and is expected to be complete by 2014.

“This partnership will help us fully deliver on our strategy by giving us added composite manufacturing expertise and strong production capabilities,” says MSC Projects Manager Rich Foedinger. “Matrix Composites is the perfect partner to help us fully realize the U.S. Army’s production goals.”

Matrix Composites is a full service provider to the aerospace and defense industries with particular emphasis on critical structures fabricated with polymeric composites. 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.

The Matrix Composites production facility is at 275 Barnes Boulevard in Rockledge.