Foam Matrix In The News

Foam Matrix Selected As Exclusive Structures Partner For DRS Technologies/Lockheed Martin Future Combat Systems Proposal , April 29, 2003
Foam Matrix Wins Prestigious Aviation Week Innovation Award , October 2, 2002
Foam Matrix Introduces New AirCor™ Structural Technology , September 25, 2002
Foam Matrix Featured on CNN , September 16, 2002
Foam Matrix Awarded Supplier Innovation
Award for Boeing UCAV , March 1, 2002
Foam Matrix Wins Bid to Produce UCAV Foam Cores , June 17, 2001
Foam Core Structures for JASSM Program , September 20, 2000

INGLEWOOD, CA, April 29, 2003 - Foam Matrix, Inc. today announced that the company has been selected as the exclusive structures partner by the DRS Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: DRS) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Aeronautics Company Future Combat Systems (FCS) team. In this role, Foam Matrix will produce the fuselage and wings for the team’s proposed Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (TUAV) to meet the requirements of the DARPA/U.S. Army FCS program. During the development and tooling phase, Foam Matrix will work as a member of an integrated product team with the DRS Technologies/Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (ADP) team.

Future Combat Systems is a joint program of DARPA and the U.S. Army. FCS will develop network centric concepts for a multi-mission combat system that will be overwhelmingly lethal, strategically deployable, self-sustaining and highly survivable in combat through the use of an ensemble of manned and unmanned ground and air platforms. The TUAV will be the primary eye-in-the-sky vehicle.

Foam Matrix was selected by the DRS Technologies/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company team because of the company’s unique history of designing robust, low-cost structures using its patented Foam Matrix Core (FMC) System™.

"Foam Matrix has demonstrated the capabilities of the FMC system in other programs with Lockheed Martin,” said Steve Ericson, Director Advanced Prototyping Center, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. “The performance/price aspects of this technology make it very attractive."

“We’re particularly pleased that this prestigious team respects our credibility in lightweight, high-performance structures,” added Foam Matrix president Kent Sherwood. “We’re delighted to demonstrate that our FMC system allows us to produce these structures at a cost-level that would be very difficult to duplicate using any other process.”

If the team’s proposal is successful, Foam Matrix will supply the wings and fuselage with all fasteners, ready for power plant and electronics modules to be quickly fitted in order for the aircraft to become operational.

Foam Matrix Core System

Foam Matrix's FMC System produces high-quality, low-cost, composite structural cores that can be designed and integrated into a variety of environments. Unlike most structural cores that require excess assembly tools, integration parts and materials such as fasteners, splices and potting compounds, the FMC System is a one-step, one-tool method that greatly reduces traditional production processes and maintenance, as well as the costs associated with both. Foam Matrix structural cores have been proven in a variety of aerospace and commercial applications.. Benefits of the FMC System include sharply reduced parts count, seamless construction, short production-cycle time, light weight and very low cost. The FMC System is highly reproducible, and this translates into high consistency of product quality, an essential ingredient in aerospace applications.

Foam Matrix, Inc.

Located in Inglewood, California, Foam Matrix Inc, an ISO 9100 certified company, is a leading supplier of cost-effective structural parts and assemblies for aerospace applications. The company uses several proprietary high quality, cost-efficient composite structural core systems to meet the increasing needs of the aerospace industry. The company's patented FMC System™ and AirCor™ system produce structural core systems that can be designed to meet the most demanding integration, performance and cost requirements. In 2002, Foam Matrix was awarded a Technology Innovation Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology for its Foam Matrix Core System.