Ceramics in defense technology—protection and precision under extreme conditions
Ceramic materials are assuming key functions in defense technology. High-strength ceramics such as boron nitride or silicon carbide are used in ballistic protection systems, for example, in body armor, vehicles or helmets. They combine low weight with extreme hardness and offer effective protection against projectiles and splinters. In optoelectronic systems such as night vision devices or infrared cameras, transparent ceramics enable high-resolution images under adverse conditions. In radar technology, ceramic substrates and high-frequency components ensure stable signal transmission and temperature resistance. Other applications include ignition systems, sensors, navigation systems or heat-resistant insulators in rocket and propulsion technology. Technical ceramics offer not only protection but also precision, miniaturization and durability—indispensable properties for modern defense technologies.
Material advantage in the field: ceramic solutions for modern defense systems
In defense technology, materials face special challenges: They have to be lightweight yet extremely resilient, resistant to temperature and corrosion, wear-resistant and electromagnetically or optically functional. Technical ceramics meet many of these requirements and have become firmly established in various areas of military and security applications—from ballistic protection to high-resolution sensor technology.
Ballistic protection is a particularly visible field of application. Ceramics such as boron carbide (B4C), silicon carbide (SiC) or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) are used in protective vests, helmets, vehicle armor and protective shields. Due to their extreme hardness and low density, they are able to stop projectiles and splinters efficiently without greatly increasing the weight of the equipment. Modern ceramic composite systems combine hard ceramic layers with fiber-reinforced composite materials to achieve high energy absorption and high mobility at the same time. Research and development are currently focusing on even lighter, multi-layer systems and new microstructures to improve splinter bonding and multi-hit resistance.
Ceramic materials also make a decisive contribution to sensor technology and optoelectronics. Highly transparent ceramics such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) or spinel are used in night vision devices, laser safety windows or infrared cameras. They offer high optical quality, are extremely scratch-resistant, and resistant to thermal and chemical stresses. The combination of transparency and mechanical robustness makes these materials ideal for applications in adverse environments, such as reconnaissance systems, target optics or optical protection systems in armored vehicles.
Another increasingly important area is radar technology, in which ceramic materials are used as radome materials (radar domes). These protective casings must allow radar waves to pass through virtually unhindered, while at the same time withstanding extreme mechanical and climatic conditions. Ceramics based on aluminum oxide or special composite ceramics offer the necessary electromagnetic transparency as well as weather and temperature resistance, especially at supersonic speeds or in maritime applications.
Ceramic components are also used in drive technology, for example, in engines, turbochargers and missile exhaust ducts. CMC materials (Ceramic Matrix Composites) allow higher operating temperatures than metallic materials, which increases efficiency and range. Their corrosion resistance is also an advantage in contact with aggressive combustion gases. The same applies to heat-resistant insulators, bearings and sealing systems in electrical or mechatronic components.
A growing trend is integrating ceramic materials into electronic protection systems: Piezoceramics enable active vibration control, ultrasonic sensors or energy conversion. Ceramic materials are used as high-voltage-resistant insulators or functionally integrated components in electromagnetic protection systems (e.g. EMP protection). Ceramic substrates and housings are also used in the miniaturization of electronic modules for unmanned systems (UAVs, UGVs) and precision ammunition.
Current developments are focusing on combining several properties in one material—for example, lightweight construction, radar transparency and ballistic stability—and on additive manufacturing technologies that can be used to produce complex, functionally integrated structures from high-performance ceramics.
Ceramics are therefore much more than just a protective material in defense technology: They enable new system approaches, improve function and operational capability under extreme conditions and make a significant contribution to the performance of modern security applications.