1 source · first reported 1h ago

A Maui-based firm, Voltage Vessels, has developed a basalt-fiber composite material called Eclipse X9 to 3D print fixed-wing drones and a small surface-water drone. The drones were tested during the Rim of the Pacific exercise in Hawaii. The material is made by combining fiber spun from volcanic basalt rock with thermoplastic polyester PETG.
The development of basalt-fiber drones could lead to more durable and sustainable unmanned aerial vehicles for military use. The testing of these drones during a major naval exercise highlights the potential for innovative materials in defense technology.
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