Advanced Composite Structures

Northrop Grumman pioneers automation. We've invented advanced industry-leading technologies, enabling high-rate production of complex parts and incredibly precise inspection. In result, we increase output, reduce labor hours and improve quality – which reduces cost for our customers.

Our automated manufacturing technology includes fiber placement machines, tape-laying machines, stiffener forming machines, case forming machines, high-speed waterjets, and non-destructive inspection and testing. 

Northrop Grumman supporting the future of aeronautics – now. We are engaged in research and development that will boost high-rate production for the next-generations of programs.

As experts in composite technology, Northrop Grumman’s aerostructures provides superior durability, ensuring safety and longevity, even in the most extreme conditions.

These structures, built with remarkable precision and quality, can be primed to integrate and protect weapon systems, such as the weapons bay doors for the F-35 Lightning II. Other structural applications include airframes, wing tips, radomes, panels, antennas, control surfaces and more.

To ensure structures are survivable against the harsh environments of air and space, we produce protection materials, which protect against lightning, rain and dust erosion, impact, radiation, electromagnetic pulses and more.

Northrop Grumman crafts, cures and tests some of the largest structures in the aerospace industry.

Among our advanced technology is a first-of-its-kind automation machine that efficiently pairs automated fiber placement and automated tape laying to create unique, complex structures, as well as autoclave infrastructure spanning over 80 feet in length.

We’ve supplied more than 1,000 large composite structures for Ariane V, Antares, Pegasus, Atlas V, Delta II and Delta IV. With automated machinery designed to support large structures, such as launch vehicles, our facilities have the resources and infrastructure to support the next generation of programs in air and space.

We’re prepared to support our partners – from prototype to testing. Our skilled integrated product development teams have a reputation for building optimized manufacturing processes, which contribute to first-time quality, reduction in development time, and cost-competitive solutions.

We leverage our deep expertise in design and analysis in complex geometries, environments and systems, which we’ve demonstrated for next-generation structures. We also use analytical process stimulations to enable faster build times. We can then certify product integrity through structural and fatigue testing on structures that range in size, which includes advanced data monitoring and recording, to support program success.