While military gear has traditionally been made from metal, high-performance plastic materials are revolutionizing the design and manufacturing of these critical tools and machinery. These plastic solutions offer numerous advantages, especially given their lighter weight in relation to traditional materials. In fact, some estimates state that plastics reduce per-soldier equipment loads by up to 50 percent. Read on to learn how working with a custom plastic distributor can help you meet challenges on and off the battlefield.

Reinforce Vehicle Armor

High-performance plastics are often combined with multi-layered steel, titanium, fiberglass, and Kevlar to reinforce defensive strength. The primary advantage of these high-performance plastic resins is their light weight, reinforcing heavy defense machinery without adding excessive mass. This is important for maintaining maneuverability. If you want to reduce weight, a custom plastic distributor can help you source lightweight alternatives.

Advantages for Drones

Drones, also known as unmanned flying devices, rely on lightweight but durable materials to ensure they can lift off and maneuver properly through the air. Since this technology is being adapted to automated or remote-controlled jets, also known as stealth drones, high-performance plastics are becoming increasingly popular. These lightweight, polymer-shielded fighters provide unparalleled advantages, enhancing stealth to make them practically invisible to enemy radars.

Location Recognition

Tracking military personnel and first responders is critical for delivering emergency assistance, evacuating personnel, or relaying up-to-date information about a given landscape. While many technologies exist to track personnel within structures, such as GPS-based tools, few similar devices exist to track in outdoor locations. 

However, high-performance polymers allow for the creation of AI-driven tools that collect data about a given region and relay it via handheld or wearable technology. This is critical for alerting military personnel of nearby dangers.

Enhanced Field Gear

While Kevlar is the material of choice for most military field gear, high-performance plastic polymers offer unique advantages. For example, a “passive intelligent” body armor is being developed, which hardens on impact but remains semi-viscous when not in use, affording greater flexibility and range of movement.

Other exciting possibilities for high-performance plastics in the defense industry include interconnected bodysuits that work via wireless connectivity with explosion-resistant headgear, cameras, night vision, and head-mounted displays. This comprehensive setup enhances efficiency and provides greater capabilities to military personnel in various situations. All of this and more is possible with the help of a reliable plastic supply company!

Stealth Improvements

Stealth is one way that military personnel gain an upper hand on the enemy, going undetected to achieve high-pressure goals with minimal risk. Unfortunately, metal machinery can be detected by electromagnetic radar/sonar and infrared technologies. Non-conductive and insulated plastic materials are now being used to achieve the same goal without the risk of detection.

These technologies include helicopters with polymer foam blades and polymer matrix-based coatings that prevent traditional machinery from being detected. These are just a few of the ways that custom plastic thermoforming can enhance defense capabilities through stealth improvements.

Custom Plastic Solutions for Defense

New Technology Plastics leverages industry expertise to bring military personnel custom plastic solutions. We inventory a wide selection of high-performance and general-purpose plastics in sheet, rod, tube, and films. We have in-house engineers who utilize the latest CAD-CAM software and over 25 advanced CNC machines, which allow us to meet your needs regardless of project size. Call New Technology Plastics today at 866-687-0700 or contact us online to request a quote.