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Camouflage inflatable membrane hangar in desert terrain with ground crew working outside

DEFENSE / SHELTERS · HANGARS · EQUIPMENT COVER

Defense support

Hangars, barracks, command posts, equipment cover. This construction started as a military shelter technology and was later civilianised — coming back to defense support, the specification is held to its hardest numbers.

32 × 36 × H13 m180° arc75 cm wallsOptional blast layerCamouflage finishPickup-mobile

In defense support, inflatable membrane structures cover four task groups: aircraft and outsize equipment hangarage (equipment cover series, 32 m × 36 m × H13 m, 180° arc, 75 cm walls); field barracks and basing (accommodation series, 20 cm walls, 6 × 4 m to 12 × 8 m); field command posts and communications rooms (command series, 10–20 cm walls); and field hospitals and materiel cover. The decisive advantage is mobility: total mass around 8 kg/m², rolled to a cylinder that loads onto a pickup bed, with siting requiring no lifting equipment and no hardstanding — 1 to 3 people complete it. Wind rating exceeds Beaufort 8 with gusts to 10, operating range is −45 to 60 °C, and roof loading is at least 400 kg UDL with a 150 kg mid-span point load. A blast layer is available as an optional added layer.

This line came out of military membrane shelter technology and was civilianised from there, so nothing about the specification needs qualifying when it comes back to defense support.

Defense users want what emergency users want, only harder: mobility down to one pickup taking a complete unit, siting with no ground preparation and no crane, and cover to 13 metres of clear height with no internal columns so an aircraft drives straight in.

The membrane is a laminate of blast layer, airtight layer, fabric and drop-stitch threads, in which the blast layer is an optional added layer specified to order. At 75 cm of wall, the structure provides cover and a substantial cushioning depth at the same time.

On finish, olive, grey and camouflage low-visibility schemes are standard options and can be produced to a nominated reference.

32 × 36 mHangar footprint, 13 m clear height
180°Hangar arc — column-free access for a complete airframe
75 cmMaximum wall thickness
USE CASES

Defense use cases

All of the following sit within the capability range of the published specification.

Camouflage inflatable membrane hangar in desert terrain with a fixed-wing aircraft inside
01 — HANGAR

Aircraft hangars and maintenance bays

A permanent hangar takes years to build and cannot be moved once sited. A membrane hangar compresses that to days, and relocates whole.

  • Equipment cover series: 32 m wide × 36 m long × 13 m high, 180° arc
  • 75 cm walls, roof UDL not below 400 kg with a 150 kg mid-span point load
  • No internal columns — a complete airframe drives in and out
  • Around 6–10 kg/m² of projected area, relocated and reused whole
32 × 36 × H13 m180° arc75 cm
Camouflage-finish wide-span arched inflatable membrane structure, product render
02 — EQUIPMENT

Radar and outsize equipment cover

Large equipment degrades under prolonged exposure, and many basing locations cannot support permanent storage construction.

  • Equipment cover series suits aircraft and other outsize equipment
  • Full-envelope protection against dust, rain and solar exposure
  • Relocated and reused as basing positions change
  • Camouflage and low-visibility finishes available
Full envelopeRelocatableCamouflage
Olive inflatable membrane unit configured as multi-occupancy accommodation
03 — BARRACKS

Field barracks and basing

Basing units are judged on low-temperature capability, batch deployment rate and storage density — all three, not one.

  • Accommodation series in five sizes: 12×8 m, 8×8 m, 8×6 m, 6×5 m, 6×4 m, 3.5 m high
  • 20 cm walls, U-value 0.5–0.64 W/m²·K
  • TPU membrane from −41 to 65 °C for cold-weather basing
  • Small packed volume — stockpiled and moved by unit strength
20 cm wallTPU −41 °CFive sizes
Cut-away view of an inflatable membrane unit showing multiple internal working zones
04 — COMMAND POST

Field command posts

A forward post is judged on time to established, and on whether it links by function into a complete command element.

  • Command series in four sizes, wall thickness 10–20 cm to order
  • Modular assembly links units into functional zones
  • Roof UDL not below 300 kg — equipment and cabling can be suspended
  • Deploys alongside power, lighting and communications equipment
10–20 cmLinked unitsFast establishment
Field medical unit interior with medical staff treating casualties
05 — FIELD MEDICAL

Field hospitals and surgical units

Medical elements need clean zoning, temperature control and a linked treatment flow, established in step with the rest of the site.

  • Accommodation series, 20 cm walls, linked along the treatment flow
  • Portable air conditioning for temperature control and dehumidification
  • Smooth internal surfaces for cleaning and disinfection
  • Integrates with command and accommodation units into one site layout
Clean zoningClimate controlLinked layout
Aerial view of a field camp with membrane units laid out in ordered rows
06 — STORAGE

Materiel cover and stores

Forward storage has to exist today and may have to move tomorrow.

  • Large-span hall in four grades, 10 × 20 × H5 m to 30 × 40 × H15 m
  • Wall thickness 30–75 cm, with optional blast layer
  • Moisture, dust and solar protection, column-free for handling
  • Compressed in storage — consumes no permanent warehouse volume
To 30 × 40 mBlast layer optionalColumn-free
Three rolled camouflage membrane units loaded in a pickup truck bed
07 — MOBILITY

Mobility and rapid relocation

Mobility is the most scrutinised figure on this line — not whether it can be moved, but on what, and with how many people.

  • Around 8 kg/m² total mass, rolled to a cylinder when deflated
  • One roll carried and loaded by a single person; a pickup bed takes several
  • Siting needs no heavy plant and no hardstanding — 1–3 people complete it
  • Hand relay into positions vehicles cannot reach
8 kg/m²One-person carry1–3 to establish
Olive rolled membrane unit set down in a valley with dimensions marked
08 — OUTPOST

Border posts and forward bases

Outposts are frequently beyond vehicle reach, resupplied on foot or by pack animal, and mass and packed volume decide feasibility outright.

  • FC Cabin packs to Ø0.5 × 1.5 m at 128 kg, suited to small positions
  • UMI Pod (Ø3.2 m / 8.42 m²) for one- or two-person forward positions
  • Operating range −45 to 60 °C for high-altitude and arid basing
  • Deploys directly on unprepared ground
FC 128 kg−45 to 60 °CNo ground prep
SELECTION

Defense selection guide

A starting point. State clear height, span and finish requirements with the enquiry.

Defense selection guide
Task Recommended Dimensions Wall thickness
Aircraft hangar / equipment cover Equipment cover series 32 × 36 × H13 m, 180° arc 75 cm
Large materiel cover Large-span hall 20×30×H10 to 30×40×H15 m 50 – 75 cm
Helicopter / UAV cover DZFW large-span hall 10×20×H5 to 20×20×H10 m 20 – 30 cm
Field barracks Accommodation series 6×4 to 12×8 m 20 cm
Field command post Command series 3.0×2.0 to 4.0×4.0 m 10 – 20 cm
Field hospital Accommodation series 8×6 / 8×8 m 20 cm
Border post / forward position FC Cabin / UMI Pod 4.0×4.0 m / Ø3.2 m 15 – 20 cm

Blast layer, camouflage finish and low-infrared-signature membrane are optional added configurations, produced to the buyer's specification.

Export compliance
Defense-use structures are reviewed case by case against destination country and end user; some markets require an export licence before shipment. No specification files are offered for download on this page. Please state end user, end use and destination country with your enquiry so we can confirm whether we can accept it and what documentation will be required. We do not accept orders that fall outside export-control requirements.

Full specifications

FAQ

Defense procurement questions

How large can a hangar be, and will an aircraft fit through whole?
The equipment cover series is 32 m wide × 36 m long × 13 m high on a 180° arc with 75 cm walls. There are no internal columns, so equipment enters and leaves complete. Roof loading is at least 400 kg UDL with a 150 kg mid-span point load. Requirements beyond that envelope need project-specific tooling and assessment — send us the equipment envelope and the clear height you need.
Is the blast layer standard, and to what level?
The blast layer is an optional added layer, not standard, and is specified to order. The membrane cross-section runs blast layer, airtight layer, fabric with drop-stitch threads, airtight layer, blast layer. Protection level has to be defined against your specification and verified by testing; we do not publish a preset rating. Please state the test standard that must be met with your enquiry.
Can one pickup really carry a complete unit?
It depends on the model. Total mass is around 8 kg/m² and each unit rolls to a cylinder. Among standard R variants, FC packs to Ø0.5 × 1.5 m / 128 kg and QY to Ø0.6 × 1.6 m / 140 kg, so a pickup bed takes several. Large structures such as the wide-span hangar are substantially heavier and bulkier and ship as modular assemblies. Tell us the lift capability available and we will propose a corresponding breakdown.
Will you produce to our specification, and can the finish be customised?
Yes — we work OEM / ODM. Sizes are tooled to your specification, and beyond the standard olive, grey and orange, colour is produced to a nominated reference, with camouflage and low-visibility finishes as standard options. Marking, packaging and accompanying documentation are delivered to the buyer's requirements.
What are the export restrictions?
Defense-use structures are reviewed case by case against destination country and end user, and some markets require an export licence before shipment. We do not accept orders that fall outside export-control requirements. Please state end user, end use and destination country with the enquiry; we confirm whether we can accept it before discussing specification and price, and that order does not change.

Page updated 2026-08-26

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Dimensions, quantity, destination port, intended use — those four are enough to price it. Custom structures and non-standard sizes are equally welcome; every unit ships with its own test data.

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