Fabric structures, also known as container shelters or tensioned fabric buildings, are becoming an increasingly popular choice in the defence industry, particularly in the United States. These structures are known for their durability, portability and ease of setup, making them ideal for a wide range of defence-related applications.
In this article, we will take a look at the various ways in which Fabric Structures can be utilised to support the needs of the defence industry. We will also discuss the advantages that Fabric Structures offer in terms of customisation, speed of deployment and ease of transportation.
Why Choose a Fabric Structure?
Fabric Shelters are a durable, modern alternative to traditional buildings, offering a range of unique benefits for industrial applications from manufacturing to maintenance and beyond.
There are several reasons why Fabric Structures are an attractive choice for defence applications, including:
- Speed of deployment: Fabric Structures can be set up quickly and easily, making them ideal for use in situations where a rapid response is required. This can be particularly beneficial for defence situations where time is of the essence.
- Portability: Fabric Structures are lightweight and easy to transport, making them well-suited for use in remote or austere locations. They can be quickly and easily disassembled, moved, and reassembled at a new location.
- Durability: Fabric Structures are designed and constructed to withstand harsh weather conditions, including wind, rain, and other environmental factors. They are also able to withstand extreme temperatures and high humidity, which is important for defence applications where the structures will be used in a variety of different climates.
- Flexibility: Fabric Structures can also be customised to meet specific requirements and can be modified or expanded as needed.
- Ease of maintenance: Fabric Structures are relatively low maintenance, making them ideal for instances where regular maintenance may be difficult or impossible.
Why Choose a DomeShelter™ Solution?
DomeShelter™ Structures are 100% Australian-Made, manufactured using high quality Australian steel and flame-retardant, tear-proof Armourtex™ Fabric Tarp. Every Shelter is fully engineered, and can be designed to withstand up to Australian Wind Region D – severe cyclonic wind speeds.
Our experienced and friendly team takes care of every stage of the process, from consulting all the way through to delivery and installation. With a range of customisation possibilities, every DomeShelter™ Structure is Fit-For-Purpose and fulfils every client’s individual needs.
Defence Use Cases
General Workshops
A DomeShelter™ Structure can provide a cool, protected environment for General Workshops. Sea containers form hard walls and mounting points, and can be fitted out to provide further purpose-built workshop space or general storage space.
Deployable pallet and warehouse racking systems can be laid out and protected from the elements, as well as being secured from observation and access. Easy vehicle and MHE access can be provided using open-ended Shelters, or Endwalls with a range of flexible door options.
Messing
A DomeShelter™ Structure can provide a large, open space for a deployed mess that is still protected.
Kitchens, refrigeration units, dry good or general storage containers form the perimeter of the mess and the mounting point for the roof structure. Endwalls can provide further protection and entrances for personnel.
Alternatively, a similar configuration can provide the basis for deployed gymnasiums, recreation facilities, Operations Centres, or even chapels.
Weapon Systems Hides
DomeShelter™ Structures can be integrated with the FibroTex™ multi-spectral camouflage protection system, resulting in optimal protection for high value weapons systems.
This combination is fast to establish, re-deployable and cost-effective, meaning that multiple hides can be established across several sites for each system.
By providing protection both from ‘the elements’ and enemy observation and targeting systems, a camouflaged DomeShelter™ hide assures the safety and operational readiness of critical systems, especially those deployed in a defensive posture.
Materiel Protection and Storage
Fabric Structures are used extensively across many industries for materiel protection and storage.
On a smaller scale, simple warehouses can be created from Container Mounted DomeShelter™ Structures (CMDS), with open ends to allow free access to vehicles and Materiel Handling Equipment.
Specialised structures can be designed, such as POL points, with cover for refuelling vehicles, pumping equipment or bulk stores of other Dangerous Goods. DomeShelter™ Structures have long proved effective for the storage of volatile materials in the mining industry.
DomeShelter™ Structures can also scale to significantly large sizes, up to 30 metres wide x 85 metres long and beyond. Post mounted designs can span up to around 60m width and be essentially any length necessary.
DomeShelter Australia have fabricated a number of very large shelters for use as warehouses across a number of industries, some being highly customised to suit specific requirements. An example of a specifically engineered protective structure is a custom DomeShelter™ Structure protecting a generator farm at a Windarling complex owned by Cliffs Natural Resources. This kind of thinking can be applied to Comms equipment, Water Supply Systems or Waste Management equipment.
Ammunition Storage
Ammunition Storage requires separation of natures, physical protection, and security, while at the same time providing easy accessibility.
A simple Post Mounted DomeShelter™ Structure, combined with earth bunding, can provide protection from the elements as well as observation. These also allow access for vehicles and in service pallet systems.
Large scale ammunition stores can be created by ‘daisy chaining’ a number of interconnected Structures. In this case, the containers are filled with earth, providing physical separation and a safe yet protective frangible roof structure.
Finally, ammunition loading or issue points can be created with either container or post mount design, scaled for armoured vehicles or groups of foot mounted soldiers.
Vehicle Maintenance and Storage
Vehicle maintenance is the ‘bread and butter’ use case of DomeShelter Structures among our leading clients – thousands of our Shelters are applied for use as Light and/or Heavy Vehicle Maintenance Bays.
Containers provide a stable base for the Structure, and can also house hydraulic bays, tyre bays, tool storage, machinery or spare parts. A DomeShelter™ Structure provides shade, protection from the elements, reduces dust and the potential for enemy observation. All structures are able to be draped with multi-spectral camouflage systems to reduce their signatures.
Shelters can be ‘daisy chained’ together, with either containers or posts as the support. They can differ in arch width, height and length, allowing for any number and combination of vehicles to be protected.
Aircraft Hangar Open Shelters
With their large size potential and obstruction-free internal span, DomeShelter™ Structures make excellent aircraft parking facilities/hangar open shelters.
As a fixed infrastructure asset on an airbase or a personal airfield, the arch trusses can be modified to include light mounts or brackets to fit automatic fire fighting systems.
As a deployable asset, the light nature and fast installation of a DomeShelter™ Structure means that air operations can commence quickly and effectively. It can also allow the establishment of cost effective, dispersed ‘bare base’ or decoy facilities.
Get In Touch
If you are interested in a durable, Australian Made Fabric Shelter for any kind of defence application, submit your details using our contact page and we can connect you directly with our dedicated defence & aerospace specialist Paul Byrne to further discuss the defence capabilities of DomeShelter Australia.
