The European aerospace and defence industries could be strategically disadvantaged because of weakness in materials production, according to DrThierry Puig, head of structural materials at the French research body DGA. Speaking at an Aerospace Composites conference in Toulouse, Puig added that Europe was generally strong on applications for new materials.He acknowledges that the defence market, especially where little spin-off is anticipated into the civil sector, can be less attractive for suppliers because of a long return on investment cycle, small market share and challenging technical requirements. But suggests that adjustments in research structure, with extra funding assistance, are one way of addressing the situation. Specific research 'orientations' are required to 'pull' developments such as low-signature (stealth) materials, low-weight armour, and materials for domes in radar, sonar and missiles, says Puig. He adds that the DGA has a range of tools including doctoral thesis grants, reactive credits favouring spontaneous proposals from small innovative enterprises, subsidies for key research teams and exploratory research work. Additionally, it assists groups of experts to keep a watching brief on potential new structural materials. To complement this PROMAT, the Prospectif Materiaux program is focusing on areas such as nanotechnologies, multilayers, customized materials, active materials and systems.
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