Manufacturing Technology Program

The Manufacturing Technology Program (ManTech), Navy (PE 0603680N) is managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is designed to enhance the productivity, affordability, and responsiveness of the U.S. defense industrial base. The primary objective of the program is to develop, optimize, and transition advanced manufacturing technologies to key naval suppliers, thereby supporting the acquisition and sustainment of critical naval platforms. The program is structured to transition emerging science and technology (S&T) results into acquisition programs, improve industrial capabilities for production and maintenance, and advance manufacturing technologies that reduce costs and improve performance and responsiveness.

Composites Processing and Fabrication is a major focus area within ManTech, aiming to improve the affordability, effectiveness, and reliability of weapon systems through the expanded use of composite materials and structures. The program develops and matures manufacturing, assembly, and repair processes for composite materials, targeting platforms such as submarines, destroyers, carriers, frigates, and aircraft. Specific objectives include advancing fiber-reinforced polymeric composites, ceramic-matrix composites, and related joining and assembly technologies, with an emphasis on cost reduction and accelerated capability delivery to the fleet.

Electronics Processing and Fabrication seeks to improve the affordability of electronic weapon systems by developing robust, cost-effective manufacturing processes for critical defense electronics. The program supports the creation and transition of new electronics and electro-optics manufacturing processes, including semiconductor devices, nanoelectronics, packaging technologies, and photonics. Key goals are to enhance the production of unmanned and autonomous vehicles, directed energy systems, and sustainment technologies, with direct application to high-priority naval platforms.

Metals Processing and Fabrication focuses on developing affordable and robust manufacturing and repair processes for metals and special materials essential to Navy weapon systems. This includes advancing processing methods, additive manufacturing, casting, joining, machining, and inspection technologies. The program also supports sustainment through the development of repair technologies for key platforms at depots and logistics centers, aiming to reduce lifecycle costs and improve platform readiness.

Manufacturing Enterprise/Other encompasses efforts to improve the overall manufacturing enterprise for naval shipbuilding and aircraft production. This includes the development and transition of enterprise-level manufacturing technologies such as design for manufacturability, modeling and simulation, intelligent manufacturing planning, automation, robotics, and advanced data analytics. The program also addresses energetics manufacturing, focusing on the production of safe, affordable, and high-quality energetics products, particularly in support of the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems.

Congressional Adds in FY 2024 provided targeted funding for three specific initiatives: the National Energetics Plan, Sustainable Energetic Materials Manufacturing, and the Textile Industry of the Future. The National Energetics Plan aimed to modernize and digitize critical energetic manufacturing processes to strengthen supply chain resiliency. Sustainable Energetic Materials Manufacturing established a test bed for advanced processing techniques, integrating continuous synthesis, rapid mixing, and modeling to improve quality and safety. The Textile Industry of the Future focused on scaling up advanced textile-based materials and processes, modernizing manufacturing through digitization, and supporting both defense and commercial needs.