Fuel tank fires and explosions are the primary causes of military and civilian aircraft losses and have been a major concern for the aviation and defense industries. Passive protection systems with explosion-suppression materials generate a protected environment within fuel tanks before ignition can occur and help prevent catastrophic failures. To minimize these concerns, open-cell reticulated polyurethane foams are extensively used in passive protection systems. However, fire- and explosion-related incidents are still taking place and need to be urgently addressed for aviation safety. This study investigates the effects of graphene nanostructured foams for redesigning the next-generation lightweight fire-retardant materials in aviation. Graphene foams have a unique open-cell morphology with three dimensional (3D) continuous and interconnected network structures and hollow features, which can be suitable for aircraft and defense applications. In this study, mechanical and thermal characterizations tests were conducted on graphene nanostructured foams for a better evaluation. Mechanical loading-unloading studies highlighted their outstanding mechanical energy-absorption capabilities against external loads. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the graphene foams provided excellent thermal properties against fire and high-temperature degradation. It was also confirmed that graphene foams uniquely manifested self-extinguishing characteristics during burning tests without catching fire or dripping for secondary fire formations. According to the tube explosion experiments, the graphene foams kept their appearance and strength after blast impacts and elevated explosion temperatures and shock waves. As a result, the proposed multifunctional graphene micro- and nanofoams offer significant potential for the next-generation fire- and explosion-suppression materials in various critical industries, such as aircraft, defense, space, drone, energy, and automotive. © 2024 The Authors