Navy Advanced Manufacturing

The Navy Advanced Manufacturing program, funded under Program Element (PE) 0604286N, is a comprehensive research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiative focused on advancing the Navy's capabilities in additive and advanced manufacturing technologies. The FY 2026 budget request supports four distinct project units, each targeting specific operational domains: aviation, maritime, digital integration, and expeditionary logistics. The overarching goal is to enhance fleet readiness, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and enable on-demand production of critical components across a distributed and contested battlespace.

Project 0311: NAVAIR Aviation Advanced Manufacturing is dedicated to developing and qualifying advanced and additive manufacturing (AM) processes, particularly 3D printing, for deployment at Fleet Depot and Level II Maintenance facilities. The objectives include material verification and qualification, incorporation of private industry AM initiatives, and support for Cooperative Research and Development Activities (CRADAs) with industry partners. FY 2026 activities focus on expanding material capabilities for both desktop and industrial 3D polymer printers, developing and certifying high-strength polymers for aviation applications, and updating system documentation and training. These efforts aim to enable point-of-need manufacturing of critical aircraft parts, decrease mean logistics delay times, and increase aircraft availability and readiness.

Project 0312: NAVSEA Maritime Advanced Manufacturing centers on the development and integration of additive manufacturing equipment and processes for both land-based and afloat naval applications. The program's goals include establishing system performance and shipboard integration requirements, optimizing material selection and design, and certifying equipment and components for operational use. FY 2026 funding supports RDT&E for metal and polymer AM components, the development of AM standards, and the creation of technical data packages. Additional efforts are directed toward qualifying AM equipment for shipboard use and integrating AM parts into logistics systems, including data-driven part identification and analytics. The project also explores advanced manufacturing and repair of electronic components such as printed circuit boards.

Project 0313: NAVWAR Digital Integration Advanced Manufacturing is focused on delivering digital solutions that align with Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) priorities for fleet readiness. The project is developing the Digital Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem (DAME), which includes the design and certification of AM capabilities, cybersecurity risk management for manufacturing devices, and secure technical data packages for digital manufacturing. FY 2026 objectives include deploying material recycling and filament creation technologies, validating new AM tools and materials, and advancing zero-trust and cloud-based cybersecurity solutions. The project also aims to expand the Navy's print tracking application and streamline automated development and certification of technical data packages, supporting distributed manufacturing and secure data exchange across the Navy enterprise.

Project 0314: NAVFAC Expeditionary Advanced Manufacturing supports the National Defense Strategy and Navy Facility Command's strategic objectives by enabling resilient and agile logistics through advanced manufacturing. The program is designed to increase operational availability and supply chain resilience by facilitating on-demand production of critical systems in the field. FY 2026 efforts include identifying and certifying field-suitable AM systems, analyzing implications across doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities, and policy (DOTMLPF-P), and conducting end-user training and fleet exercises to validate system capabilities. The project also evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) AM equipment for organizational-level maintenance and adapts IT systems and policies to support expeditionary manufacturing needs.

These projects under PE 0604286N are structured to provide the Navy with a robust, flexible, and technologically advanced manufacturing capability. By investing in RDT&E across aviation, maritime, digital, and expeditionary domains, the program seeks to mitigate supply chain risks, reduce maintenance delays, and ensure the Navy can rapidly respond to operational requirements. The approach leverages partnerships with industry, public-private institutes, and internal Navy research centers, and emphasizes the integration of new technologies into existing logistics and operational frameworks.

The FY 2026 budget realignment consolidates advanced manufacturing RDT&E funding for improved visibility and execution, reflecting a strategic emphasis on innovation, efficiency, and readiness. The program's acquisition strategies are informed by user evaluations, experimental validation, and cross-domain collaboration, ensuring that future manufacturing solutions are tailored to the unique needs of the Navy's operational environment.