September 18, 2024
Orbital Composites has received a TACFI contract from AFWERX to further develop and expand production of its Starfighter X modular unmanned aircraft system (UAS). This contract highlights the company’s innovative techniques in aerospace manufacturing and increases its total government contract awards to over $10 million.
The Starfighter X platform utilizes Orbital Composites’ proprietary additive manufacturing compression molding (AMCM) process. This innovative method merges robotic, extrusion-based 3D printing with compression molding, facilitating the creation of low-porosity composite materials. The AMCM process allows for the quick fabrication of intricate aerospace parts, establishing Orbital Composites as a leader in advanced UAS technology.
The Starfighter X system delivers several key features, making it a suitable choice for the changing requirements of national security and defense:
Orbital Composites’ Advanced Manufacturing and Construction Methodology (AMCM) is recognized for its economical efficiency akin to automotive industry standards coupled with the high performance expected in aerospace. The company’s proficiency in direct 3D printing of Starfighter aircraft and its ability to rapidly escalate production to reach tens of thousands of units renders it a crucial participant in the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Replicator initiative. This project envisions deploying thousands of autonomous systems swiftly within the forthcoming year to eighteen months, an objective that aligns seamlessly with Orbital’s capabilities.
“We established the factory initially to address the challenges of expanded production capacities,” remarked Amolak Badesha, co-founder and CEO of Orbital Composites. “While the industry norm revolves around prototypes, our focus has been on erecting a facility that transitions from design to mass production exceptionally swiftly. This approach is now proving beneficial as the DOD demands quick, adaptable solutions.”
Orbital Composites isn’t merely concentrated on evolving its own airframes; it is actively negotiating with leading contractors to facilitate the manufacture of larger, more sophisticated aerospace structures. Its robotic, autonomous manufacturing techniques might become crucial in the development not only of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative but also in meeting the Pentagon’s extensive deployment goals of autonomous systems.
“I founded Orbital to construct the quickest helicopter conceivable. Currently, equipped with the appropriate machinery and a production setup designed for scalability, we are poised to introduce groundbreaking products like the Starfighter drones,” stated Cole Nielsen, founder and CTO of Orbital Composites.
Orbital’s advancements are fueled by the latest in 3D printing technology, revolutionizing aerospace manufacturing. Through scalable production and alignment with Department of Defense initiatives, Orbital Composites is set to significantly influence the future of autonomous flying machines.
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