Pilot program on use of additive and advanced manufacturing to support naval shipbuilding

identify shipbuilding components, replacement parts, tooling, fixtures, and other items that are constrained by limited suppliers, long lead times, obsolete production methods, or foreign dependence;

evaluate the use of additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing to produce such items in a manner that meets applicable Navy technical, safety, cybersecurity, quality assurance, and certification requirements;

reduce schedule delays in ship construction, maintenance, and repair caused by shortages of parts or production capacity;

strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity for naval shipbuilding; and

support the development of qualification standards and repeatable certification pathways for additive manufactured shipbuilding components.

select not fewer than three classes of naval vessels for participation in the pilot program;

prioritize components and parts that have demonstrated supply chain constraints, production bottlenecks, or recurring availability issues;

partner with public shipyards, private shipbuilders, suppliers, and other entities within the domestic shipbuilding industrial base;

support University Affiliated Research Centers, federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified technical organizations with expertise in additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, materials science, and industrial base modernization;

establish procedures for testing, qualification, and certification of additive manufactured parts for naval use; and

ensure that any technical data, digital models, or manufacturing processes developed under the pilot program are managed to support long-term Navy sustainment and avoid vendor lock-in.

identifying candidate parts and components suitable for additive or advanced manufacturing;

developing manufacturing processes and qualification standards;

conducting materials testing and performance validation;

assessing cybersecurity risks associated with digital manufacturing files and production systems;

supporting workforce development and training for additive manufacturing in the naval shipbuilding industrial base; and

advising the Navy on how to scale successful technologies across shipbuilding and ship repair programs.

the ship classes, shipyards, and industrial base partners participating in the pilot program;

the categories of parts or components selected for additive manufacturing or advanced manufacturing;

the extent to which the pilot program has reduced lead times, production delays, costs, or supplier constraints;

any barriers to qualification, certification, cybersecurity, intellectual property, or technical data rights;

the role of University Affiliated Research Centers and other technical organizations in supporting the pilot program; and

recommendations for expanding the use of additive and advanced manufacturing across naval shipbuilding and ship repair.