Applied Aerospace & Defense announced that it has acquired Ultracor, a California-based supplier of specialized honeycomb core materials used in complex bonded composites. The transaction is part of Applied’s broader strategy to strengthen vertical integration across its supply chain as demand accelerates across the global space and defense sectors.
Honeycomb core materials and bonded composites are foundational components in a range of advanced aerospace systems, including satellites, spacecraft, aircraft, missiles, and high-performance antennas and radomes. These materials provide exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratios compared with single-ply materials while maintaining mechanical and thermal stability in extreme operating environments.
Founded in 1995, Ultracor produces proprietary honeycomb core composites using materials such as carbon, quartz, Kevlar, and fiberglass, along with its proprietary Ultraflex matrix technology. The company has built a reputation in the aerospace sector for developing specialized materials for complex structural applications.
By integrating Ultracor into its operations, Applied Aerospace & Defense aims to streamline production processes, improve supply chain agility, and expand manufacturing capacity to support emerging aerospace platforms. These include next-generation tiltrotor aircraft, collaborative combat aircraft, and advanced navigation satellites.
Ultracor operates near Applied’s largest manufacturing site in Stockton, California. The Stockton campus spans ten buildings across 25 acres and was purpose-built for aerospace system production. It forms part of Applied’s broader national manufacturing footprint, which includes eleven facilities across six states and more than 1.5 million square feet of production capacity.
Applied Aerospace & Defense focuses on designing, engineering, and manufacturing mission-critical systems for extreme operating environments. Its work spans three core markets: space and launch systems, defense aviation and airborne systems, and C5ISR and precision strike systems. The company supports both large-scale production programs and rapid prototyping for next-generation aerospace technologies.
KEY QUOTE:
“Ultracor has long been a trusted high-quality supplier of critical honeycomb core materials to the aerospace industry. By bringing Ultracor into the Applied family, we will be able to accelerate and streamline our production processes, which build some of the most complex space and defense systems in the world including next generation tiltrotor aircraft, collaborative combat aircraft and navigation satellites. We are thrilled to have Ultracor as part of the Applied team.”
Kevin Bidlack, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Applied Aerospace & Defense
