Texas Research Institute Austin, a small business partner of the Air Force Research Lab, is developing a new coating for the F-35 strike fighter designed to dramatically improve resistance to heat and degradation caused by abrasion, according to a release. “This is roughly a 2,000-percent improvement in the average time between coating failures and directly addresses a current F-35 need,” said AFRL Project Manager Maj. George Woodworth. Wear and tear on current coatings “causes an unscheduled maintenance burden to repair or strip and recoat the area,” he said. If undetected, abrasion can severely damage the underlying aircraft section, particularly if it is made up of composite materials, states the March 13 release. “We anticipate that the new material will provide … an estimated $14 million in lifecycle cost savings,” said Woodworth. The Austin, Texas-based company received a $1.3 million award to continue advancing the product for potential future use on the F-35 and other aircraft, according to AFRL.
Watchdog Says Military Can Make Cyber Ops More Efficient
Sept. 17, 2025
The Government Accountability Office called for paring down the military's sprawling cyber enterprise in a recent report, amid renewed discussion about standing up a separate cyber force.
