The ADMIRABLE project is a research initiative
developed within the Operational Processes Program
and the Shipyard 5.0 initiative.
In May 2024, the European Commission announced the projects selected under the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2023 call.
The ADMIRABLE project (Additive Manufacturing of Composite-based Fire-resistant Materials for Stealth, Ballistic Lightweight Armored Structures) is a research initiative developed within the Operational Processes Program and the Shipyard 5.0 initiative (manufacturing materials). The total budget for the project amounts to €10,262,673, fully subsidized by the European Commission.
The goal of the ADMIRABLE project is the innovative design of new multilayer composite materials for the fabrication of critical components for naval platforms. This effort aims to bolster European naval superiority in combat by reducing ship vulnerability and enhancing resilience against new disruptive threats. The project seeks to provide the European naval industry with the capability to design and manufacture next-generation vessels with improved performance while minimizing costs through the use of innovative materials, technologies, and manufacturing processes. The start date for the project was December 1, 2024, with the signing of the Grant Agreement with the European Commission. The project is expected to be finished in November 2027.
Background
In defense applications, research and development efforts focus on improving materials capable of withstanding hypersonic flight, extreme thermal loads, ballistic impacts, electromagnetic pulses, and more. Technologies developed for civilian purposes often form the basis of advancements, but these must be further adapted, enhanced, or combined with specialized innovations to meet the demanding conditions of defense operations.
High-temperature resistance is a crucial feature for materials used in various defense systems. Aircraft and helicopter components near engines require materials that exhibit structural integrity, lightness, and heat resistance. For ground systems, components need to balance weight with ballistic performance, such as protection against kinetic energy penetrators.
Missile, aerospace, and naval applications demand materials capable of handling extreme thermal stress, as seen during hypersonic flight, while maintaining lightweight and structural efficiency. In the naval sector, materials near missile launchers must withstand heat and saltwater corrosion, all while minimizing weight through improved thermal resistance and thinner insulation.
Sensor systems require materials transparent to specific wavelengths, such as visible light, infrared, or radio frequencies, while maintaining mechanical properties like stiffness and temperature resistance. Naval defense materials must also provide electromagnetic pulse protection and ensure electromagnetic compatibility, reducing detectability and enhancing onboard electronic systems’ performance.
ADMIRABLE project
To address these needs, Navantia proposed the ADMIRABLE project under the European Defence Fund (EDF), focusing on designing high-performance materials for defense applications, particularly for reducing ship weight. In May 2024, the European Commission approved the ADMIRABLE project, designated EDF-2023-RA-SI-MATCOMP-HPM, aimed at developing composite materials that combine mechanical, thermal, ballistic, and electromagnetic properties without requiring surface coatings or treatments.
The ADMIRABLE material goes beyond existing solutions by offering enhanced low-observability properties across a wide range of electromagnetic bands (microwave, infrared, and visible spectra). Unlike conventional carbon-fiber composites, this material is fire-resistant, a critical feature in military applications.
The structure of the ship’s hull must simultaneously meet multiple requirements to provide the vessel with sufficient rigidity to withstand the stress caused by operational conditions and shock or fire-induced tensions. Additionally, it must remain discreet to enemy emissions while being transparent to its own, requiring integration with armored protections in multiple sensitive areas. Current naval construction technologies fulfil these requirements through steel structures coated with materials that absorb radar emissions, while avoiding interference with its own emissions by substituting steel in certain zones with GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) around the sensors.
This solution is far from ideal, as blind spots exist for sensors installed on the ship, resulting in a lower level of discretion and failing to optimize functionality extensively across various types of electromagnetic emissions (radar, infrared, etc.).
This approach increases the weight of the vessel, sometimes even exceeding expectations if shielding is required. Moreover, added GRP components entail a moderate to high risk of fire and thermal degradation that structural steel does not have.
Disruptive new technologies applied to naval construction, such as those derived from this project, ADMIRABLE, can help change this scenario by driving drastic transformations in design, material types, and manufacturing processes. These innovations aim to achieve lighter products, fire-resistant hulls, and other critical components, while simultaneously improving the operational capabilities and sustainability of warships.
Work Packages
The project is structured in four phases
- Knowledge Generation: System engineering and requirement definition.
- Knowledge Integration: Material solutions and supply chain development.
- Studies: Environmental, fire, and circularity assessments.
- Design: Functional layer design for stealth, thermal, ballistic, and fire resistance