Technology company Oceanit (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) and Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, Maryland, USA) signed a technology license agreement to collaborate on the evaluation and deployment of Oceanit’s AeroPel nanocomposite protective layer for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft and ground support equipment.
AeroPel is described as a next-generation nanocomposite surface treatment developed to directly address DoD’s corrosion maintenance costs, which average nearly $20 billion annually. The treatment repels both water- and oil-based substances—hydrophobic and oleophobic—to prevent corrosion while drastically reducing the cost and downtime of associated maintenance. With a focus on environmental, health, and safety, the technology aims to deliver superior protection compared to traditional aeronautical corrosion treatments.
“By protecting our aircraft and ground support equipment from corrosion, we can ensure that our nation’s systems remain ready for any challenge,” says Kristian Tucker, Lockheed Martin’s senior manager for ground support equipment.
The companies first collaborated on the “AFWERX Expedient Basing Challenge” series, which was hosted by the U.S Air Force and Air Force Research Laboratory in January 2024. To improve military readiness, the combined team proposed AeroPel as a practical solution for protecting aircraft and ground support equipment from corrosion damage at forward operating bases. Among 800 solutions, the companies were then down-selected to showcase technology at events for warfighters stationed in Nevada and Florida.
The two companies announced the new agreement at Oceanit’s 2024 technology showcase event, which took place in May 2024 in Houston.
“This partnership will supercharge the deployment of AeroPel to solve mission-critical maintenance problems and create an immediate impact on operational readiness for the Department of Defense,” says Dr. Patrick Sullivan, CEO of Oceanit. “We are excited to ramp up our collaboration with Lockheed Martin to change the equation on corrosion for U.S. warfighters around the globe.
Source: Oceanit, www.oceanit.com