Configurable Payload Systems

Background

Nantrak Industries develops payload systems for defense applications where mission requirements change faster than traditional hardware development can respond. The company needed a design and manufacturing partner that could match the pace of operational planning—delivering flight-ready hardware in weeks rather than the months or years typical of conventional defense procurement.

The Challenge

Traditional payload system development requires sequential design cycles, prototype tooling, and single-source manufacturing—a process that typically takes months from concept to flight-ready hardware. When mission requirements change mid-development, the process often restarts from the beginning. Nantrak needed a fundamentally different approach that could compress development timelines while maintaining the structural and environmental performance required for flight operations.

Our Approach

General Lattice developed a parametric model that captured the key design variables and constraints for the payload system family. This model enabled rapid concept iteration—generating and evaluating design variants in hours rather than weeks. When a configuration met performance requirements, the manufacturing package was generated directly from the parametric model and distributed across a qualified supplier network for production.

The multi-supplier activation strategy meant that production capacity could scale with demand, and manufacturing was not dependent on a single source. Each supplier received a standardized manufacturing package that ensured consistent quality regardless of production location.

The Outcome

General Lattice delivered multiple flight-ready payload system units that were demonstrated at an Army xTech event—just two weeks from initial concept to flight-ready hardware. The parametric model remains active, enabling Nantrak to generate new configurations as mission requirements evolve without re-engineering from scratch.

This project demonstrated the full potential of combining computational design with distributed digital manufacturing: rapid iteration, on-demand production, and supply chain resilience—all critical requirements for defense applications.