The US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded Colibrium Additive a $3-million contract to advance metal additive manufacturing for naval aviation.
The award supports NAVAIR’s Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative, which focuses on accelerating the testing, qualification, and certification of 3D-printed metal parts for operational use.
Rather than relying on traditional manufacturing and long supply chains, the program seeks to enable faster, repeatable production of airworthy components.
Under the contract, Colibrium will develop six metal alloy material process combinations which define the physical and mechanical properties required for certification.
Alongside materials development, the company will deliver multiple metal 3D printing systems, including M Line and M2 Series 5 machines, to support production and testing.
A dedicated effort to characterize thin-wall fatigue performance is also part of the program, addressing one of the key challenges in certifying lightweight aerospace structures.
The contract includes training programs for engineers, technicians, and machine operators to ensure consistent manufacturing processes within navy workflows.
US Defense Expands Metal Additive Manufacturing
Across the US defense sector, additive manufacturing has gained traction as a way to produce complex parts faster and closer to the point of need.
In April, Velo3D secured a $9.8-million contract to support the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)’s Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability pilot parts program.
The five-year effort aims to expand 3D-printed components in sustainment operations, with Velo3D using its laser powder bed fusion technology to produce metal parts often constrained by long lead times and limited suppliers.
In the same month, Nikon AM Synergy secured a contract to produce defense components, including metal, for the DLA using additive manufacturing.
The US military advanced its additive manufacturing efforts with a $9-million research lab in Illinois. The facility, announced in May 2025, will focus on developing 3D printing techniques for large metal parts used in military ground vehicles.
