Advanced carbons in defence

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer is the primary structural material across defence platforms, used in fighter and transport aircraft airframes, unmanned aerial vehicle structures, armoured vehicle hulls, naval superstructures and missile casings. Its combination of high stiffness, low weight and the ability to be shaped for a reduced radar cross-section makes it valuable for both performance and signature management. About 38,703 tonnes of carbon fibre went into aerospace and military applications in 2024, with high-strength and high-modulus grades specified where stiffness and dimensional stability matter most.

Carbon nanotubes are under active development for lightweight body armour and blast panels, where nanotube-reinforced composites can absorb more energy per unit weight than conventional aramid fibres, allowing thinner and lighter protection. Graphene and carbon nanotubes are also being explored for radar-absorbing materials, thin films and coatings whose tuneable electromagnetic properties enable broadband microwave absorption at reduced surface weight. Carbon-carbon composites handle the most extreme thermal duty, holding strength above 2,000 degrees Celsius in hypersonic re-entry thermal protection systems and rocket nozzles.

Nanodiamonds add ultra-hard, wear and abrasion-resistant coatings for vehicle hulls and armour inserts. The military carbon fibre market was valued at about $2.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at roughly 8.3% a year to 2035, with the combined aerospace and defence carbon fibre segment forecast at around 11.3% annually to 2033. Carbon-carbon composites for aerospace, including defence, were valued at about $1.44 billion in 2024.