Lightweight Lightning Strike Protective Coating for Extreme Environments

Missiles can be struck by lightning, or trigger lightning discharge during launch, which can damage critical structures and prevent successful mission completion. MDA requires a material solution to allow hypersonic interceptor missiles to mitigate the risk posed by lightning and ensure mission success in the event of a lightning strike. Furthermore, the solution needs to survive the extreme temperatures caused by aerothermal heating during hypersonic flight. To address this need, Luna Labs USA proposes to develop a lightning strike protection coating suitable for both retrofit to existing missile structures, as well as application during new construction. LunaÆs ceramic based conductive coating can be spray coated over the entire missile surface to provide a conductive pathway to dissipate lightning strikes, while maintaining high temperature survivability throughout the missile flight profile and during a possible lightning event. The coating will also offer the advantages of being lighter weight compared to other conductive coating options, easy to apply and cure using readily available materials and industry standard equipment, and robust for missile ground handling and transport. Furthermore, the coating will be available for both incorporation into the manufacturing process for new missiles as well as protection of existing missiles for which no lighting strike protection solution currently exists. Approved for Public Release | 24-MDA-11906 (16 Sep 24)