The Navy accelerated the transition of additive manufacturing (AM) (AKA 3D printing) from a promising capability to a warfighting capability in 2025, slashing lead times by 70 percent and solidifying strategic partnerships with AUKUS allies, which help establish the distributed manufacturing network.
Through a coordinated effort across Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB), and the private sector, the naval enterprise moved beyond testing to integrate AM components directly into the supply chain, strengthening fleet readiness and logistics resilience.
Source: DVIDS Marines | Author: Alisha Tyer | Published: Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:34:20 -0500