Toray milestone supports US Army's FLRAA

Toray Composite Materials America Inc., manufacturer and supplier of carbon fiber and prepreg materials, recently celebrated the commissioning of its upgraded carbon fiber production line in Decatur, Alabama. The upgrade doubles the production capacity of the TORAYCA™ T1100 carbon fiber, a component in the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).

In December 2022, Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, was selected for the U.S. Army’s FLRAA weapon system development contract. Within the Future Vertical Lift ecosystem, the FLRAA program offers combat aviation brigades with more range and speed compared to current utility helicopters. Toray Composite Materials America’s T1100/3960 carbon fiber prepreg helps meet the important operational requirements of the FLRAA program with lightweight, high-strength airframes.

Vince D’Arienzo, technical fellow of technology and innovation at Bell, attended Toray’s carbon fiber line dedication. “We’re excited about Toray’s additional fiber production capability as the T1100 carbon fiber will directly support the FLRAA weapon system,” said D’Arienzo. “Working collaboratively with Toray on the accessibility of T1100/3960 prepregs, materials utilized for FLRAA’s primary airframe structure, instills confidence in our organization’s ability to meet both our manufacturing and performance objectives.”

A decade in the making, following design and manufacturing modifications, rigorous flight testing over the years, and the structural material performance of the V-280 Air Vehicle Concept Demonstrator enable Bell to successfully deliver the next-generation long-range assault aircraft for the U.S. Army. In 2019, Toray began collaboration with Bell on producing allowable design data for the T1100/3960 prepreg system. The comprehensive plan allows Bell and other aerospace companies to streamline the certification process by navigating the regulatory landscape more efficiently and meet necessary standards for quality and safety.