Researchers Develop Lightweight Next-Generation Airfield Matting System

  • Published
  • By Heyward Burnette
  • AFRL/ML
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Researchers from AFRL and Webcore Technologies, Inc., made significant headway in the design and development of a strong, lightweight-composite-based airfield matting system for forward aircraft deployments. The next-generation matting system touts a 36% weight reduction over the extruded aluminum (AM-2) panels currently in use and has twice the operational life. The lightweight system's simple connection method and optimized shipping size will enable the Air Force (AF) to deploy aircraft more rapidly via considerably faster expansion of parking aprons and connection of taxiways and maintenance areas. Several years of extensive testing and analysis have effectively demonstrated that the new matting system meets loading and weight requirements.

The AF's renowned capacity to respond quickly and decisively anywhere in the world relies on myriad combat support activities that occur on the ground. Typical deployments to remote locations require a large number of aircraft sorties to transport equipment, personnel, and supplies. As a military operation intensifies, the available taxiways, parking space, and aircraft maintenance areas are quickly exhausted. Conditions range from extremely austere dirt strips to commercial airports and fixed military installations. Parking aprons at many of these potential airfields are not adequate to support large contingency operations, a problem further complicated by the fact that the soil types at many sites are unknown.

Maximum-on-ground (MOG) requirements represent a major aspect of assessing airfield capabilities. MOG assessment entails two categories: parking and working requirements. Whereas parking MOG refers to the number of aircraft that can be parked at an airfield and is dependent on the specific mission, working MOG is based on the available parking space, the size and type of crews, and the equipment available to service aircraft. Working MOG thus has significant impact on the overall speed at which a bare base can be established.

Increasing MOG capabilities at airfields supporting forward military deployment operations is essential. This is why AFRL engineers, in conjunction with Webcore Technologies, have undertaken to design and develop a new composite airfield matting system that addresses not only technological issues, but cost savings concerns as well. Composite materials are up to 10 times stronger than conventional matting materials but weigh considerably less. In significantly advancing the AF's capability to perform contingency operations from bare bases and austere airfields, composite airfield matting systems will have an immediate and positive impact on mission success. AFRL researchers are continuing research and development efforts, to include advanced-composite hybrid material concepts, towards further improving the new system's performance.