Toray, IGCS and Lacks Carbon Fiber Launch Composite Collaboration for Drone Production

Toray Advanced Composites, IGCS International and Lacks Carbon Fiber have launched a collaboration to use high-performance composite materials in the rapid, on-demand production of drones under the US Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance Program.

Toray Advanced Composites, IGCS International and Lacks Carbon Fiber LLC, all active in the field of advanced composite materials, will collaborate under the US Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance Program, which aims to develop domestic high-volume drone and unmanned aerial system (UAS) production capacity.

Announced on August 11, 2026, the collaboration will bring together the three companies’ capabilities in advanced composite materials, high-volume component production and direct government procurement. The goal is to bring advanced composite materials into the US defense supply chain more quickly and to contribute to the production of drone platforms according to need.

Integrated supply model from composite material to component production
As part of the collaboration, the division of tasks between the companies has also been clarified.

Toray Advanced Composites will supply carbon and glass fiber reinforced prepreg composite materials. Lacks Carbon Fiber will laminate these materials and process them to meet the US Department of Defense’s component specifications. The delivery of the produced components to the US defense supply chain and the government procurement processes will be carried out through IGCS International.

With this model, the aim is to deliver advanced composite materials to end users through a shorter and more integrated supply chain, from production to final use.

Rapid and on-demand production in drone manufacturing
The Drone Dominance Program focuses on strengthening the US’s domestic high-speed drone and UAS production capacity, accelerating advanced material innovation, and supporting the manufacturing infrastructure of the defense industry.

One of the key objectives of the collaboration is to establish a production infrastructure that will enable components used in small drone platforms to be integrated not only on traditional OEM production lines but also, when necessary, at the depot level and potentially in the field.

Russ Spears of IGCS International stated that the collaboration will complement the traditional OEM supply chain and will enable components to be integrated at the depot level, and potentially even by end users in the field.

Automotive manufacturing experience to be brought into the defense industry
Lacks Carbon Fiber aims to combine its experience in high-volume automotive component production with its advanced composite material processing capability to contribute to the scalable production capacity of the US defense industry.

The company will bring its high-precision manufacturing, automation, composite material processing and engineering competencies into defense applications.

Lacks Carbon Fiber Managing Director Ryan Lacks stated that the company’s high-volume production capabilities in the automotive sector and its composite material processing experience could contribute to the Drone Dominance Program’s scalable production goals.

Advanced composites increasing their role in defense applications
Toray Advanced Composites Defense Business Development Director Eric Smith stated that advanced composite materials play an important role in the future of aerospace and defense systems.

Smith noted that the collaboration between Toray, IGCS and Lacks Carbon Fiber will support the direct delivery of materials to authorized government users and will help small drone solutions to be developed and produced rapidly.

The collaboration brings together carbon and glass fiber reinforced composites, prepreg technologies, high-volume component production and direct government procurement within the same production and supply model.

Roles of the companies
Toray Advanced Composites will provide high-performance prepregs, resins and engineering solutions for aerospace, defense and industrial applications.

Lacks Carbon Fiber will offer advanced tooling, automation and high-precision composite manufacturing solutions, while transferring its experience from high-volume automotive production into defense applications.

IGCS International will take on a role in direct government procurement processes with its experience in system integration, program support and technical expertise for the federal market. The company has more than 20 years of experience in advanced manufacturing and defense.

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