New AML Matting Revolutionizes Airfield Deployment

After a decade of innovation, the ERDC team has unveiled AML (Airfield Mat Lightweight) — a next-gen alternative to the classic AM2 matting. Designed for faster deployment and easier shipping, AML is 40% lighter and a third less bulky, making it more troop- and cargo-friendly. While AM2 remains the go-to for heavy-duty needs, AML offers a smart, scalable solution for lighter loads. Field testing has shown strong results and positive feedback, especially for its streamlined packaging and ease of use — a big step forward in airfield matting logistics.

Transcript

00:00:00 Over the past probably 10 years, uh, Erric team has been working on developing a brand new matting system. This matting system is called AML. It's a airfield mat lightweight. We've reduced the volume of the mat by about a third. And then we've also reduced its weight by about 40% unit area. And the idea is we wanted to try to come up with something that's easier to ship around

00:00:21 the world, more logistically friendly, and is easier on the troops when they're installing it. The AM2 matting is great, but it is very heavy. So we are here doing a fit form function experiment to make sure that as we scale up into a large parking area for aircraft that we're not finding any problems in the joining systems or anything as it moves up in scale. AM2 has been around for a

00:00:45 very long time. It was developed in the '60s to simulate aircraft ship decks. It's been the gold standard for matting for a long time. However, it was designed well before our current shipping container configurations. And so the reason we're trying to bring in something like AML rather than just always using AM2 is because AML is more friendly to shipping by cargo containers

00:01:08 and shipping to C17s using the Air Force. So logistically, it's a lot more friendly. However, it's not as structurally robust as AM2. So we're not going to get rid of AM2 completely. We're just making a supplemental for where you don't necessarily need something as robust as AM2. It's actually been very effective. We caught a lot of the big issues in the small

00:01:30 scale testing. AML has tighter tolerances because we shrank it down. So, we were a little bit concerned about that, but we were able to build very large section of the the pad in just a day. So, generally speaking, we took some notes on ways we can improve, but it was actually a lot more effective than we might have thought coming out here. Very positive reception on that

00:01:50 one. They were immediately giving us feedback that the AML packaging is so much better, much preferred. It is positive to hear the new packaging design is good. They've been learning a lot of what this this new this new mat is actually entailing. They've been they've been given a great deal of feedback and reviews for the Eric team so they can take it back for

00:02:12 testing and research purposes. My guys have been just phenomenal out here. We were the the first ones to actually touch this. So, it's it's a great feeling for not only myself leading this, but also just for my guys and just seeing them actually getting the recognition that they deserve for this. I'm so happy that you guys actually worked with us and chose us to be a part

00:02:33 of this great opportunity.