CARC Painting for Defense Suppliers in Michigan
Anchor Bay Powder Coat applies complete Chemical Agent Resistant Coating systems, from pretreatment and epoxy primer through CARC topcoat and documented inspection, for suppliers to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, AM General, and BAE Systems.
- ISO 9001
- AS9100D
- ITAR Compliant
- MIL-DTL-53072 Process
- Approved BAE Systems Paint Source
What is CARC?
Chemical Agent Resistant Coating, applied to spec
CARC is the military's standard paint system for tactical vehicles, ground equipment, and support hardware. It is a multi-layer system, not a single paint. Pretreatment, an epoxy primer, and an aliphatic polyurethane topcoat work together so that surfaces resist chemical agent absorption, survive decontamination, and hold camouflage color and low reflectivity in the field.
Getting CARC right comes down to process control: surface prep, film build, cure, and inspection records that hold up to a prime's quality review. That is the work we are built for.
- Full system under one roof, from blast and pretreatment to topcoat
- Liquid CARC (MIL-DTL-53039, MIL-DTL-64159) and CARC powder (MIL-PRF-32348)
- Application and inspection to MIL-DTL-53072
- Quality documentation tracked digitally on every job
- Stencil and identification marking per MIL-STD-130 and MIL-STD-642
- Anti-skid and nonslip walkway coatings
- Assembly, custom packaging, and trucking
The CARC System
Four stages, one accountable shop
We are the last process step before your parts ship to the customer, so every stage is controlled and documented in-house.
Surface preparation
- Abrasive blast to SSPC-SP 5, 6, 10
- Burn-off and solvent cleaning
- SSPC-SP 1, 2, 3 cleaning
Pretreatment
- TT-C-490 conversion coatings
- MIL-DTL-5541 Type II (aluminum)
- MIL-DTL-16232 phosphate
- DOD-P-15328 wash primer
Primer
- MIL-DTL-53022 epoxy
- MIL-PRF-23377 high-solids epoxy
- MIL-DTL-53084 cathodic e-coat
- MIL-PRF-32550 metal-rich
CARC topcoat & QC
- MIL-DTL-53039 / MIL-DTL-64159
- MIL-PRF-32348 CARC powder
- Inspection per MIL-DTL-53072
- MIL-STD-1916 acceptance
Specifications
CARC and military coating specs we work to
| Spec | What it covers |
|---|---|
| MIL-DTL-53039 | Single-component aliphatic polyurethane CARC topcoat |
| MIL-DTL-64159 | Water-dispersible aliphatic polyurethane CARC camouflage topcoat |
| MIL-PRF-32348 | Powder coating, camouflage chemical agent resistant systems |
| MIL-DTL-53022 | Epoxy primer, corrosion inhibiting, lead and chromate free |
| MIL-PRF-23377 | High-solids epoxy primer |
| MIL-DTL-53084 | Cathodic electrodeposition primer, chemical agent resistant |
| MIL-DTL-53072 | CARC system application procedures and quality control inspection |
| MIL-PRF-85285 | Polyurethane coating for aircraft and support equipment |
| MIL-PRF-22750 | High-solids epoxy coating |
| MIL-PRF-24667 | Nonskid coating system |
| MIL-T-704 | Treatment and painting of material |
| Lockheed Martin | Approved to WS19201 and WS20271 |
| General Dynamics | Approved to QL48 |
Don't see your spec? Send the print. Our complete spec list is on the home page.
Colors
Standard CARC camouflage colors
We apply the CARC colors called out on military drawings, matched to FED-STD-595 numbers. Tell us the color on your print and we'll confirm.
Who We Serve
Built for the suppliers behind America's defense primes
Most of our CARC work comes from machine shops, fabricators, and assemblers building parts for defense programs. You make the part; we deliver the finish and the paperwork your customer expects.
Prime approvals
Approved to paint and coat parts for Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, AM General, and BAE Systems.
Quality you can audit
ISO 9001, AS9100D, and ITAR compliant, with CMMC Level 2 and Nadcap in progress. Every job runs through Steelhead for digital traceability.
Capacity and logistics
Large ovens, in-house blast and pretreatment, assembly, custom packaging, and our own trucking keep your parts moving.
BAE Systems Suppliers
CARC painting for the BAE Systems combat vehicle supply chain
Anchor Bay Powder Coat is approved to paint and coat parts for BAE Systems. BAE Systems' Platforms & Services sector designs and builds tracked and amphibious combat vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, with engineering, prototyping, and program management at its Sterling Heights, Michigan campus, a short drive from our New Baltimore plant.
Suppliers machining, fabricating, and assembling parts for these programs need a finisher who understands BAE's flowdowns, not just the paint spec. We build our CARC process and paperwork around BAE's published supplier requirements.
- Approved BAE Systems paint and coating source
- Paint certifications structured to BAE CDR 017
- Certificate of Conformance with every shipment (CDR 027)
- Coating lot, cure, and expiration tracking (CDR 023A/023B)
- Quality system to ISO 9001 and AS9100D, with ITAR compliance
BAE Systems combat vehicle platforms
Bradley Fighting Vehicle
The Army's tracked infantry fighting vehicle family.
AMPV
Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, replacing the Army's M113 family.
M109A7 Paladin
Self-propelled howitzer from the Paladin Integrated Management program.
M88A2 Hercules
Heavy tracked recovery vehicle.
ACV
Amphibious Combat Vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Platforms are listed for reference to BAE Systems' publicly announced programs and do not indicate specific Anchor Bay Powder Coat program work.
BAE Systems supplier requirements we work to
| Requirement | What it covers |
|---|---|
| CDR 017 | Paint certification: primer and topcoat dry film thickness, salt spray testing within the last 60 days, adhesion results, surface blast profile, material lot numbers and expiration dates, signed by the finisher |
| CDR 027 | Certificate of Conformance accompanying each shipment |
| CDR 023A / 023B | Shelf-life control for coatings, with cure and expiration dates tracked |
| CDR 030D | Special processes, including metal finishing, from BAE Systems-approved sources |
| Doc. 095871 | BAE Systems Contract Deliverable Requirements (CDR) Manual, Platforms & Services |
| Doc. 095870 | BAE Systems Supplier Quality Assurance Manual |
| MIL-DTL-53072 | CARC system application and quality control inspection, the Army standard behind combat vehicle CARC |
Supplying parts to BAE Systems? Send your PO flowdowns and drawing callouts with your RFQ and we'll confirm every paint and documentation requirement up front.
Request a Quote
Get CARC pricing fast
Email the following to RFQ@AnchorBayPowderCoat.com and our coatings team will get back to you quickly.
- Part prints and the paint or coating spec
- CARC color and any marking requirements
- Part quantity
- Required due date
FAQ
CARC painting questions
What does CARC stand for?
Chemical Agent Resistant Coating. It is the U.S. military's paint system for tactical equipment, designed to resist absorption of chemical warfare agents and to hold up to decontamination.
What's the difference between MIL-DTL-53039 and MIL-DTL-64159?
Both are aliphatic polyurethane CARC topcoats. MIL-DTL-53039 is a single-component, solvent-borne coating; MIL-DTL-64159 is water-dispersible. Your drawing or contract will call out which one is required.
Do you offer CARC powder coating?
Yes. We apply camouflage chemical agent resistant powder coatings to MIL-PRF-32348 in addition to liquid CARC systems.
Can you handle the full system, including primer and pretreatment?
Yes. Blast, pretreatment, primer, CARC topcoat, marking, and final inspection are all done in-house, inspected per MIL-DTL-53072.
Are you an approved paint supplier for BAE Systems?
Yes. Anchor Bay Powder Coat is approved to paint and coat parts for BAE Systems, as well as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and AM General.
What paint documentation does BAE Systems require?
BAE Systems' Contract Deliverable Requirements manual (CDR 017) calls for a signed paint certification covering primer and topcoat dry film thickness, salt spray testing within the last 60 days, adhesion results, blast profile, and material lot numbers and expiration dates, plus a Certificate of Conformance with each shipment (CDR 027). Always follow the CDRs listed on your purchase order.
Are you ITAR compliant?
Yes. We are ITAR compliant and certified to ISO 9001 and AS9100D, and we are working toward CMMC Level 2 and Nadcap.
Where are you located?
Our headquarters and operations are in New Baltimore, Michigan, in the heart of Southeast Michigan's defense and automotive manufacturing corridor. We work with suppliers nationwide and run our own trucking.