{"id":34884,"date":"2026-03-20T11:04:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/?p=34884"},"modified":"2026-03-20T11:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:04:21","slug":"the-ukrainian-cluster-alliance-at-jec-world-2026-how-to-accelerate-the-growth-of-the-composites-market-for-the-defence-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clusters.org.ua\/en\/news-en\/the-ukrainian-cluster-alliance-at-jec-world-2026-how-to-accelerate-the-growth-of-the-composites-market-for-the-defence-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance at JEC World 2026 \u2013 how to accelerate the growth of the composites market for the defence industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Image source: Phoenix Equipment Company Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 10\u201312 March, a delegation from the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) took part in the JEC World 2026 exhibition in Paris \u2013 the world\u2019s leading event in the field of composite materials. The event brought together over a thousand companies from the EU, North America and Asia, including leaders from the aerospace, automotive and defence industries. The mission was initiated by the management of the United Innovative Space Clusters and supported at UCA level, primarily by the Dual-Use Technologies Cluster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of participation was exploratory \u2013 as a joint delegation, Ukrainian clusters took part in an exhibition in this sector for the first time. At the same time, and given the rapid growth in the use of composites in the manufacture of drones and rockets, we set ourselves the task of understanding the technology stack, key technological trends and categories of potential partnerships, as well as accelerating the integration of Ukrainian clusters into European value chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Key technological trends at JEC World 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Based on the results of the meeting, the delegation members can identify the following technological trends<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The shift from metal to composites in load-bearing structures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winners of the JEC Innovation Awards demonstrate the systematic replacement of metal with composites in aviation, transport and energy: from wing load-bearing elements and hydrogen tanks to railway infrastructure and ship propellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ukraine, this means that the use of glass and carbon fibre composites in drones and rockets is not \u2018exotic\u2019, but a new industrial standard that should be incorporated into technical specifications right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Explosive growth of thermoplastic composites<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of winning projects are based on thermoplastic matrices (PA6, PPS, PEEK), which allow parts to be rapidly formed by compression moulding or thermoforming, as well as welding components without adhesive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thermoplastics are becoming a key technology for mass production: they combine high impact strength, repairability and recyclability \u2013 characteristics that are critical for mass-produced UAV airframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Industrialisation of processes: RTM, infusion, pultrusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Live Demo Zone showcased fully operational vacuum infusion and Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) lines, designed to produce dozens of parts per day with real-time process parameter control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pultrusion and automated braiding were presented as core processes for the mass production of spars, profiles and cable-supported structures \u2013 with a significant reduction in cost per metre of product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u2018digital thread\u2019 from design to repair<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the Innovation Awards winners presented a digital thread for aerospace and defence structures: from design to production, non-destructive testing and repair management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such approaches directly address the Ukrainian Armed Forces\u2019 need to rapidly repair UAVs and missile systems in the field based on data regarding actual loads and damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Circularity and recycling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A separate category of awards focused on the processing of composites: from the reuse of A380 components in new-generation aircraft to the combination of recycled fibres and bio-based resins in sports equipment and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European partners expect new projects to take disposal and recycling into account from the outset; for Ukraine, this creates additional opportunities to attract EU grant programmes for \u2018green\u2019 production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photos from the JEC World 2026 exhibition in Paris. Authour: Alex Yurchak<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What does this mean for the Ukrainian drone and missile industry?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are currently hundreds of companies in Ukraine developing and manufacturing UAVs, but the level of localisation of composite materials and processes remains limited: plywood, basic plastics and hand-lay-up are widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comparison with the JEC World 2026 trends reveals several specific areas of development:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The transition to fibreglass and hybrid sandwich structures for wings and fuselages.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of foam cores (PVC, PET, PU, EPP) and infused glass fabric allows the weight of the UAV structure to be reduced by 30\u201360% compared to plywood, whilst increasing service life and geometric stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.\u00a0Launch of medium-volume RTM\/infusion production lines. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For standard platforms (wingspan 1\u20132 m, weight 1\u201320 kg), closed-mould RTM and vacuum infusion appear to be the optimal solutions, delivering consistent quality for production runs of hundreds or thousands of airframes per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.\u00a0The development of thermoplastic composites for mass-produced airframes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thermoplastic glass and carbon fibre composites (e.g. PA6\/GF), combined with compression moulding, make it possible to move from \u2018artisanal\u2019 production to genuine drone manufacturing, whilst retaining the ability to repair and refurbish the airframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Preparation for composite rocket casings and thermal protection. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LewaCo and other award-winners in the field of liquid hydrogen tanks are demonstrating technologies for thermoplastic CFRP tanks resistant to cryogenic cracking. These solutions can be adapted for solid-propellant engine casings and rocket technology components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Focus on digitalisation and recycling as part of Ukraine\u2019s offering. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participation in European projects requires the integration of digital process monitoring (sensors, data collection) and material recycling scenarios from the outset, as well as during the modernisation of existing production facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Opportunities and prospects for cluster cooperation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Entering the market through partner clusters that already have in-depth expertise in composites currently appears to be the quickest and most effective route. Throughout the exhibition, we held meetings at our partners\u2019 stands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n