Military Aircraft

Keeping the Skies Safe with Fibersim™ Software

Military aircraft are among the most advanced aerostructures flying today. Developing these aircraft typically involves the use of composite parts and assemblies with complex layups and joints. While there are a limited number of prime contractors, the competition to secure aircraft programs is fierce so it is critical for companies to continuously find ways to lower costs, compress cycle times, and enhance quality and performance. As a result, seeking out new manufacturing methods and materials represents a way of life for successful military aircraft manufacturers.

Military fixed-wing aircraft fall into two categories: Transport and Combat. Manufacturers of transport aircraft face challenges similar to that of the makers of commercial aircraft, including an emphasis on maximizing payload and keeping operational costs to a minimum. Contractors that produce combat aircraft, such as fighter jets, attack airplanes, and bombers, are far more focused on developing a high performance craft that can out-fly the enemy and bring the pilot home safely.

The reliance on advanced materials significantly affects the cost and performance in both of these cases, so having cost certainty is critical. This is why the efficiencies provided by Vistagy’s design tools are so important to the manufacturers of military aircraft.

For example, Vistagy’s Fibersim composites engineering software has been used for almost 15 years to design and manufacture a variety of composite parts for the Joint Strike Fighter, from wing skins and intake fairings to fuselage skins and spars. The weight savings from using these materials, which constitute 35 percent of the structural weight, increases the fuel efficiency and performance of the aircraft at an effective cost point.

Fibersim provides a complete solution for composite aerostructures. From the early stages of design down to the manufacturing floor, Fibersim creates a seamless flow of data to assure that the airframe structures are manufactured with a high fidelity to specification in an efficient and economical manner.

Syncrofit™, Vistagy’s solution for airframe assembly design, gives engineers design tools to manage the complexities of fastener definition and management. As with Fibersim, Syncrofit provides a system which helps engineers throughout the entire process, but with joints and fasteners instead of composite plies and laminates. It also creates a seamless flow of information to the manufacturing floor, helping to reduce costs and increase the quality of the airframe. And, because of its unique CAD-integrated technology, it provides a solution for managing change in the design to avoid the "ripple" effect as changes cascade through an airframe assembly, leading to extended design cycles and quality issues.

Vistagy also provides a solution for ensuring that airframe components are manufactured to specification. The Quality Planning Environment™ generates first article inspection plans based on design and manufacturing data created by Syncrofit and Fibersim and saved in the CAD model.

And the key to making all this work is partnering with Vistagy to take advantage of its custom consulting services, which are dedicated to helping you implement an optimized process for developing military aircraft. For over 15 years, we’ve been an integral part of successful composites programs all over the world.

Together, these solutions comprise the Vistagy Aerosuite™, which gives the developers of military aircraft an edge in confidence and efficiency.