By Rebecca L. Grant, Ph.D., Vice President, Lexington Institute.

The Lexington Policy Papers

Read PDF of Policy Paper here.

April 7, 2025 – U.S. defense programs are becoming more reliant than ever on lightweight carbon fiber composites. From helicopter blades to the wings and fuselage of the F-35 stealth fighter, most major military aerospace platforms that form America’s advantage today depend on carbon fiber composites for their lightweight designs and advanced shaping and performance to increase range and reduce fuel consumption. For future systems, composites have been a design factor from the beginning. The Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone family and the Boeing F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter systems incorporate composites. So does the new carrier-based F/A-XX fighter plane. The Army’s Future Long Range Attack Aircraft also relies on advanced composites.  On the list are other drones, missiles, space and satellite systems covering a wide swathe of the most advanced U.S. military capability.

Production of these foundational U.S. defense programs simply cannot be allowed to depend on foreign-controlled sources. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, Hexcel Corporation is the world’s top manufacturer of aerospace-grade carbon fiber used to produce lightweight composite material used in aircraft. While that’s good for America – Hexcel has several plants and production sites in the USA, and a 100% American internal manufacturing supply chain – both Japanese and Chinese companies also play large roles in the market for this valuable strategic material. Currently, other than Hexcel, most of the remaining critical aerospace carbon fiber market is served by Japanese firms. Without some prudent stewardship and Department of Defense attention, the production of vital U.S. defense capabilities may be increasingly at risk.

This article was originally published on the Lexington Institute: American Advantage: The Strategic Value of Aerospace-Grade Carbon Fiber Composites | Lexington Institute

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