Range Extension Components

Products:    

• Flight Structures, Components, Assembly & Integration

Cobham's Role:

• Development
• Production up to 8,000 Parts/Year

Core Manufacturing Processes & Materials:

• RTM
• Hand Layup Autoclave Cure
• Graphite, Glass & Glass Epoxy 

Successes:

• Developed & Qualified Processes
• Developed & Qualified High Volume Molding Cells
• Developed & Qualified Production Lines
• Met Production Ramp Requirements

Cobham produces lightweight composite components for range extension kits for air dropped munitions. The components include fairings and wings and strong backs that interface the wings to the munition and also house wing deployment mechanisms. The wings are highly loaded, complex shape and have exacting shape and finish requirements. A combination of resin transfer molding (RTM) and compression molding are the manufacturing processes used on our qualified lean production cells to meet customer rate and quality requirements.

Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)

Cobham manufactures lightweight build-to-specification composite components under contract to wing kit system developer MBDA. Cobham currently manufactures the compression-molded strongback and strongback cover for the assembly. Previously, Cobham produced resin transfer molded (RTM) wings that included two front and two rear wings with integrally molded root and tip fittings.

Range Extension Wing Kit

In cooperation with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Cobham developed the lightweight composite wing demonstrator. The complex wing component was resin transfer molded using a qualified preform developed by Cobham. Several core materials were evaluated during the demonstration program including machined and cast-in-place foams. An all composite integrally molded root fitting was designed and evaluated as a manufacturing producibility improvement. Cobham successfully completed load testing prior to completion of the demonstration program. 

Long Shot Fairings

Cobham produced two fairing part numbers for the with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Long Shot range extension kit. Cobham designed, fabricated and qualified composite tooling for the low production rate program. Each glass epoxy hand lay up part was autoclave cured. Edge trims were completed by our 5-axis NC router.