Miltary & Defense
Military & Defense
Metal Bellows continues to be a highly sought after supplier of bellows assemblies for this demanding market. Highly sophisticated and expensive missile systems depend on triggering mechanisms that utilize precise pressure measurement systems using bellows technology as the activation device. New military vehicles are required to last longer, go faster and be more reliable than the previous generation. Metal Bellows new designs based on many years of experience contribute to this increase in vehicle life.
Metal Bellows has participated in these military and defense markets extensively over the past 50 years providing leading edge products and solutions to many unique situations typically found on NASA projects. Metal Bellows is a preferred supplier to these markets due in part to the following attributes:
- Metal Bellows has an excellent engineering staff and fully integrated on-site manufacturing
- The company utilizes the latest diagnostic tools to solve complex engineering problems
- The historical legacy of solving difficult problems contributes to finding the solution to the next “impossible” requirement.
- Metal Bellows advanced engineering coupled with an unmatched understanding of exotic metals allows Metal Bellows to provide answers where other companies falter.
Weapons Systems
As weapons systems have become more sophisticated so has Metal Bellows technology to support new products and programs. New in house FEA computer simulation programs and solid modeling capabilities all contribute to designing and manufacturing the latest weapons systems.
This market segment includes land and sea based missiles, artillery, laser guidance systems, missile command and control systems and triggers for nuclear weapons. Metal Bellows’ components play a prominent role in all these different products using precise bellows technology to deliver control functions based on changes in pressure, flow or temperature. A few systems recognized as world wide leading products include:
- Raytheon Hawk Missile System
- M109 Howitzer
- Harpoon Missile System
These weapon systems utilize Metal Bellows technology because components are designed to be compatible with system environments. Long predictable life is critical when so many of these systems are transported and used in remote locations where maintenance is generally non existent. Weapons need to operate the first time and every time and Metal Bellows products are selected for their reliability and long life.
Ground Vehicle
Metal Bellows has been selected to provide critical products to both the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) for the Marines and the Future Combat Systems (FCS) suite of products for the US Army. The EFV has recently awarded Metal Bellows a contract to supply carbon wrapped, hydraulic accumulators. Metal Bellows was the first bellows company to build and test this state-of-the-art product which saves weight and is pound for pound stronger than standard steel or alloy products.
The Future Combat Systems program has been touted as the cornerstone of US Army modernization. Eight new ground vehicles sharing a common platform are planned to be integrated with unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned air vehicles and advanced tactical sensors all working together with a common communication protocol. These new eight vehicles include:
- Non Line of Sight Cannon
- Non Line of Sight Mortar
- Infantry Carrier
- Command and Control Vehicle
- Recon and Surveillance Vehicle
- Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle
- Mounted Combat Systems Vehicle
- Medical Treatment and Evacuation Vehicle
To date the Non Line of Sight Cannon (NLOSC) has reached prototype release and the Non Line of Sight Mortar is scheduled to have prototypes running next year. Metal Bellows has many reservoirs on the Cannon with similar products destined to be used on the Mortar. This ambitious program is forecasted to create 50,000 new vehicles over the next 20 years with the first brigade due to be commissioned in 2015.