Raytheon UK is collaborating in a project intended to provide a more efficient device to protect aircraft electronics and wiring against lightning strikes.

The project – led by Controls and Data Services – also includes Newcastle University as the design authority and TT Electronics Semelab. As part of its work, the team is exploring whether Raytheon's and Newcastle University's high temperature silicon carbide technology can be used to make current limiting diodes (CLDs); a lightning protection device which is intended to reduce the amount of electrical energy traditional suppressors have to deal with during a lightning strike.

During electrical storms, lightning paths travel cloud to ground or cloud to cloud; sometimes, aircraft in flight can form part of the path. The outer skin of the aircraft, traditionally aluminium, does much to accommodate the lightning's path, while voltage 'surge suppression' devices are used to protect aircraft electronics.

"With composite materials replacing metallic components and skin materials, the reduced electrical screening in airframes is forcing a rethink of lightning protection architectures," said John Kennedy, head of Raytheon UK's Integrated Power Solutions. "CLDs will essentially absorb much of the electrical energy that the dampening device would otherwise have to channel during a lightning strike."

At the moment, Newcastle University is conducting electrical characterisation tests while TT Electronics Semelab is developing the CLD packaging. The two phase project, funded by Innovate UK, is expected to be completed by late 2015.