In the aerospace industry, ballistic protection is paramount for ensuring the safety and operational integrity of aircraft, particularly in military and high-risk environments. This protective measure involves the strategic placement of armor within the aircraft to shield critical components and personnel from ballistic threats.

Ballistic protection is primarily implemented in the cockpit walls, engine compartments, cabin and other vulnerable areas of the aircraft. In the cockpit, armor is essential to safeguard pilots against potential attacks, allowing them to maintain control of the aircraft even under fire. Engine compartments are also fortified to prevent catastrophic failures that could result from ballistic impacts.
Johann Basselin, Key Account Manager at Integris, sheds light on the company’s journey and capabilities in this niche market.

The journey of Integris in aerospace began with a pivotal opportunity with Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). The company needed armor for their new NH90 helicopter, marking the start of Integris’ aerospace division.

“We were selected and started our business with OEM as a Tier 1 supplier. This initial project laid the foundation for Integris to expand its aerospace capabilities and establish a strong presence in the industry,” Basselin recalls.

Integris faced numerous challenges as they adapted to the new aerospace contract requirements. The company had to familiarize itself with a plethora of new documents and standards unique to the aerospace industry. To ensure success, Integris collaborated with a specialized aerospace company in the Netherlands, DC, which provided invaluable support in areas such as integrated logistics support and documentation.

“We needed the support of a specific aerospace company, which assisted us in the beginning. This collaboration was crucial in meeting the high standards required for aerospace projects”, states Mathieu Vilaltella – Aerospace Project Manager.

Since then, Integris has leveraged its past experiences to streamline processes for new projects, This strategy has proven effective, allowing the company to efficiently manage and deliver on aerospace contracts.
The aerospace segment now constitutes a significant portion of Integris’ business.

Integris has provided ballistic protection for various aircraft, starting with the H135 from Airbus Helicopters. The company’s portfolio has expanded to include the NH90, H145, H225M (Super Puma), H175, and potentially the H160 in the future. Additionally, Integris has supplied ballistic protection for Leonardo Helicopters’ platforms such as the AW159, AW101, and AW169, as well as fixed-wing aircraft like the Super Tucano and the KC-390 from Embraer. The company also engages in retrofit business, updating older aircraft with new ballistic protection as needed.

An interesting facet of Integris’ aerospace work is their involvement in civil commercial aircraft protection. Following the events of September 2001, all commercial aircraft must have armor on the cockpit wall. Integris has been selected for the A350, and most A350 aircraft flying worldwide are equipped with their armor.
Basselin expresses optimism for future opportunities, stating, “We are convinced that based on our experience and track record, we will be able to further expand our footprint in the aerospace business segment and supporting customers with new qualifications on different platforms “

Integris’ aerospace capabilities are a testament to their ability to adapt and thrive in a complex and demanding defence industry. Their expertise and strategic collaborations have positioned them as a reliable partner in the aerospace sector, continuously pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ballistic protection for aircraft.

For Integris Composites, this delivery marks the realization of a strategic goal established in 2015 — to be a credentialed Tier One supplier to aerospace manufacturers.

“This event signifies the culmination of a nine-year journey,” said Andrew Bonham, president of Integris Composites, Inc. “Our European business was previously established as a global aerospace supplier. In 2015, our U.S. management team set the goal of attaining Tier One supplier status with OEM aviation companies and U.S. Department of Defense decision-makers. By 2017, we achieved AS9100 certification, a vital credential for aerospace companies, ensuring compliance with stringent quality and safety standards,” Bonham explained.

“Then in 2018, Boeing awarded us a contract to develop and engineer the MH-139A armor system. Development, design, and qualification work with Boeing, and Research, Development, Test and Evaluation aircraft with the Air Force followed. Now, thanks to a follow-on contract with Boeing, we are manufacturing the armor kits for the production aircraft,” explained David Cordova, chief commercial officer.

Integris Composites, Inc. has become a credentialed Tier One supplier to aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and prime defense contractors. “Besides Boeing, we have contracts with Bell Flight, Airbus, Velocity Systems, QinetiQ, Battelle Memorial Institute, Mack Defense, American Rheinmetall Vehicles, and the Air Force Institute of Technology,” said Cordova.

“Achieving Tier One aerospace supplier status enhances our already strong business and solidifies our reputation as a trusted provider of ballistic armor systems for vehicles, aviation, and personnel. These systems offer critical protection for personnel operating in hostile environments such as warfighters, tactical security personnel and elite law enforcement units,” Cordova continued.

“Integris Composites produces the most advanced strength-to-weight-ratio in armor for military organizations throughout the world,” Cordova continued. Last year Integris Composites became the new name for TenCate Advanced Armour, a global company founded in Europe 30 years ago this year.

Photo Credits: Department of Defence
(The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.)

LE BOURGET, FRANCE – June 13, 2025 – Astronautics Corporation of America announces the addition of a dedicated system solutions business unit to its portfolio of displays & cockpit integration and connected aircraft solutions product lines. The system solutions business line will focus on delivering turnkey, integrated solutions designed with avionics from Astronautics, its subsidiaries, and from other suppliers. It will address obsolescence, ensure cybersecurity certification compliance, and add mission capabilities for both line-fit and retrofit of commercial and military aircraft.

Astronautics is currently completing two system solutions programs and recently named a key supplier for a third program. The first program is a complete cockpit upgrade for the Erickson S-64 Air Crane® where Astronautics is providing avionics for Erickson’s retrofit of 12 helicopters with a customized solution tailored to their crane and firefighting missions. The solution includes Astronautics’ Badger™ Pro+ Gen 2.0 smart 6”x8” multifunction displays (MFDs), engine data concentrator unit, and AeroSync Mission connectivity module, along with system integration testing and functional verification.

The second program is for ENAER’s new Pillan II trainer intended for the Chilean Air Force—a replacement for their current fleet of 33 ENAER T-35 trainers. The Badger Pro+ Gen 2.0 MFDs are also at the core of the full avionics system designed and delivered by Astronautics.

The third and newest system solution program is for Astronautics to develop and integrate the avionics system for Radia’s WindRunner™ aircraft, which will be the largest aircraft developed by volume and designed for large-scale logistics in energy, aerospace & defense, and disaster relief applications.

“Given the steady increase in our orderbook of systems programs, now is the right time to formalize a system solutions unit and bring Astronautics back into the systems business,” stated Robert Atac, Astronautics president. “We are expanding on our pedigree of successful systems integration programs that modernized Brazilian, Saudi, and Peruvian C-130/L-100 military transport aircraft with a blend of Astronautics and supplier avionics.”

The new business unit is being led by Eytan Saletsky, Astronautics director of system solutions. Saletsky, who joined Astronautics in February 2023, has over 35 years of industry experience with integrated system programs, including over 20 years at CMC Electronics where he was the director responsible for the Cockpit-4000 avionics system as implemented for the Textron Aviation Defense T-6B/T-6C, Korean Aerospace Industry KT-1C, BAE Hawk for the Finnish Air Force, Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet for the Royal Thai Air Force, and the IOMAX Archangel aircraft.

To learn more about Astronautics system solutions for new and retrofit applications, visit us at the Paris Air Show, Hall 3, Booth B191, June 16-19, 2025, or contact us at BusDev@astronautics.com.

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About Astronautics
Astronautics Corporation of America, headquartered in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacture of avionics equipment and systems for the commercial and military aerospace industry. Key product areas include electronic primary flight, multifunction and engine displays, connected aircraft and airborne cyber solutions, electronic flight bags, and integrated avionics systems. Since its founding in 1959, Astronautics has been providing trusted, reliable, and tailored engineering solutions enabling aerospace OEMs and operators to achieve mission success. Astronautics is the parent company of Kearfott Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, known for its guidance, navigation, and motion sensor products for sea, land, air, and space applications. For more information: www.astronautics.com.

OAK CREEK, WISCONSIN – June 12, 2025 – Astronautics Corporation of America has signed an agreement with Radia for the design and development of a complete avionics system solution for their WindRunner cargo aircraft.

“The opportunity to work collaboratively with Radia on the avionics architecture for their one-of-a-kind WindRunner aircraft is an exciting project for all of us at Astronautics,” said Eytan Saletsky, Astronautics director of system solutions. “We look forward to applying our avionics products and system integration expertise to a platform that will reshape global aerospace logistics.”

The WindRunner is the largest aircraft ever built by volume and is designed for large-scale logistics in locations with limited infrastructure—serving energy, aerospace and defense, and emergency response missions.

For more information about Astronautics’ avionics, systems, cybersecurity, and connectivity solutions, visit us in Hall 3, Booth B191 at the Paris Air Show, June 16-19, or contact BusDev@astronautics.com.

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About Astronautics
Astronautics Corporation of America, headquartered in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacture of avionics equipment and systems for the commercial and military aerospace industry. Key product areas include electronic primary flight, multifunction and engine displays, connected aircraft and airborne cyber solutions, and integrated avionics systems. Since its founding in 1959, Astronautics has been providing trusted, reliable, and tailored engineering solutions enabling aerospace OEMs and operators to achieve mission success. Astronautics is the parent company of Kearfott Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, known for its guidance, navigation, and motion sensor products for sea, land, air, and space applications. For more information: www.astronautics.com.

COTSWORKS is now offering services to manufacture fiber optic cables with lenses formed at the end of the fiber cable. This technique optimizes the coupling efficiency by carefully managing the spot size and placement from an emitter or into a detector. This technology is fast becoming a requirement for the aerospace industry utilizing optical sensing at Ultraviolet, near infrared, or other application defined wavelengths. By integrating cutting-edge technology in our manufacturing processes, COTSWORKS offers very high-quality solutions tailored for harsh environments.

Current equipment utilizes the “Ring of Fire” which is fusion splicing technology developed by 3SAE Technologies. It is designed to perform high-quality splicing of specialty optical fibers including those with large cladding diameters or non-standard coatings which are challenging to process with standard fusion splicers. The “Ring of Fire” technology produces a ring-shaped plasma arc. This results in uniform heating around the fiber tip which minimizes loss and accommodates specialty fiber coatings. It also achieves a higher temperature than standard fusion splice equipment supporting the specialty fiber use and improved end face control.

Cables can be of bare, buffered, coated, jacketed types and made with multimode glass in multiple diameters. Endface images and IL and RL testing are available along with OTDR or OBR traces as well if required. Cables can be processed in or along with media processed within the FORCE clean room for applications ranging from imaging sensors, targeting spots, or space applications.

Contact sales@cotsworks.com for more information.

The institution is expected to focus on applied STEM and business education, with a curriculum shaped by input from leading voices across industry, technology and academia.

From supply chain analytics to health tech and artificial intelligence, employers are seeking talent that can keep up with an increasingly digital, fast-moving economy. This university aims to be part of the solution. It will offer hands-on learning, access to emerging tools like AI and real-world experience through internships and employer partnerships. That kind of education model—rooted in flexibility, quality and industry connection.

To ensure readiness to scale, CleanJoule renovated an existing factory into a new, state-of-the-art demonstration manufacturing plant in Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility significantly increases CleanJoule’s capacity to produce CycloSAF with a maximum output of 60,000 gallons per year. This plant will serve as a blueprint for full-scale CycloSAF plants worldwide ensuring production readiness upon receiving ASTM International approval to sell the fuel.

GMRE is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Test and Evaluation Support Services contract in support of the Air National Guard (ANG) and the Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC). This award, valued at $52 million, begins in January 2025, with the potential for up to four additional option years, extending through December 2029. The majority of the work will be performed at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, AZ.

GMRE has a long history of partnering with AATC, having worked with them since 2007 in similar roles. Under this new contract, we will focus on providing comprehensive test support, including test planning, execution, reporting, logistics, studies, and analysis for installations and integration on ARC platforms.

“We are thrilled to win the AATC recompete award. Over the years, we’ve developed a strong and trusted partnership with AATC, and we are excited to continue this relationship. Our team is excited to provide the critical test support AATC needs for their ongoing growth and success.” said Nic Lowe, Chief Operations Officer.

GMRE is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and fostering continued innovation alongside AATC. We look forward to the opportunities and successes this partnership will bring in the years to come.

The addition of former government and military leaders underscores X-Bow's unwavering commitment to supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and its vital mission. Since its inception in 2016, X-Bow has closely collaborated with the military on its evolving requirements for energetics, munitions and SRMs and the missions they could support. The company's strategic advisors will further deepen X-Bow's understanding of DoD and global requirements and demands and strengthen its ability to deliver on the needs of the mission and the defense industrial base.

Saab partnered with Aspen Medical, Philips Electronics Australia, Global Defence Solutions (GDS) and Marshall Land Systems to deliver more than 550 deployable medical modules. The modules provide functions enabling clinical treatment and care up to hospitalisation, and incorporate critical support infrastructure such as shelters, internal power distribution, water and waste management.

A training needs analysis is completed, identifying the gaps between current knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the new capability. This determines the training need, which Aspen Medical designs, develops and delivers to the ADF.

Dynamic business offering turn-key solutions. Aircraft & helicopter sales, aircraft maintenance, aircraft parts, aircraft broker/dealer, aircraft maintenance, line services, passenger services, exporter, aircraft cleaning exterior/interior. Access to hangar to support all your service needs.

Internationally recognized quality certifications: ISO:9001, AS9100, AS9120 and AS9110

Training in the Cirrus SR20

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