US Navy Announces Partnership with Six Companies to Develop 3D Printing Prototypes

The US Navy might employ 3D printing to boost maintenance and repair operations while also addressing the fragility of the defense industrial base.

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We’re not quite at the stage where US Navy officials can push a button and have a massive 3D printer churn out new warships, but the US Naval Surface Warfare Center granted six new contracts this month focused on securing military technology through additive manufacturing.

The Navy has selected six manufacturers to create innovative prototype projects utilizing 3D printing technology. According to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the military might use additive manufacturing to better protect its internal systems from entry or assault.

General Electric, Johns Hopkins APL, Lockheed Martin RMS, Mercury Systems, ReLogic Research, and Charles Stark Draper Laboratory have received contracts from the Center’s Crane Strategic & Spectrum Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems division (S2MARTS), a Department of Defense organization focused on technology investments. The contract’s details have not been released.

This follows on the heels of another company, MELD, being granted $1.5 million in March for metal 3D printing for the US Navy’s maintenance and repair operations.

The United States Army has also investigated the use of additive manufacturing to aid in the fabrication of titanium-armored tanks and vehicles.

Navy 3D Printed

The United States Navy stated this month that it will investigate 3D printing for submarine parts, which might address the fragility of the existing industrial foundation. The service would connect suppliers that were unable to meet demand with additive manufacturing businesses that would print components around the clock to increase supply.

According to Defense News, this would be focused at the most vulnerable sections of the submarine industrial base: castings, forgings, and fittings.

“The fact that the Navy is employing 3D-printed parts for submarines, including the new Columbia-class, is a big milestone for the technology,” said James Marques, associate analyst for aerospace, defense, and security at GlobalData Aerospace, Defense, and Security, a renowned data and analytics organization. “As one of the most complicated and risk-sensitive military engineering undertakings, there are extremely severe regulations in place for the materials used in submarine production.”

Marques indicated via email that component printing might increase supply to compensate for deficiencies in the undersea industrial base. According to GlobalData, the United States has a strong domestic position, with General Electric, Boeing, and Raytheon jointly having over 1,500 3D printing patents.

“A move toward additive manufacturing will also disrupt the industry by opening up new prospects for industrial collaboration and subcontracting,” Marques added. “The United States Navy has indicated its goal to link incumbent vendors who do not have printing capabilities with SMEs that do.”

This, however, may present new obstacles, and extending the use of 3D printing in naval shipbuilding would necessitate certain modifications in the way navies authorize material use and regulations for their platforms.

“The possible payoffs are greater availability for boats in the fleet and long-term cost savings in operations and maintenance,” Marques explained. “The United States Navy is considering next-generation submarines with additive manufacturing in mind, and this trend is spreading: the Royal Australian Navy is one of many that has lately partnered with industry to investigate 3D printing for ship components.”

Perhaps we’ll come one step closer to just pressing “print” and receiving our new battleship.

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