defense technology – 3DPrintNerd: AI Help Engine

US Navy Advances On-Demand Spares with 3D Printed Parts on Aircraft Carrier and Submarine

January 30, 2026 by

US Navy aircraft carrier deck with 3D printed spare parts and 3D printers

In a notable development for on-demand spares and digital inventory management, US Navy shipbuilders have successfully installed 3D printed parts on both an aircraft carrier and a submarine. This milestone, reported by Business Insider on January 29, 2026, marks a practical validation of additive manufacturing’s potential to transform naval logistics and maintenance operations. What Happened … Read more

U.S. Navy’s Frontline 3D Printing Boosts Distributed Manufacturing for AUKUS Alliance

January 25, 2026 by

Advanced 3D printing technology operating on a naval ship deck with digital inventory displays

What Happened In a strategic move to modernize military logistics and manufacturing, the U.S. Navy has advanced its frontline 3D printing capabilities, reinforcing cooperation within the AUKUS defense partnership. According to a recent report by Defence Industry Europe, this initiative aims to strengthen logistics and manufacturing agility among the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Why It … Read more

Revolutionizing Defense Manufacturing: The Rise of Living Materials in Additive Manufacturing at NUWC Keyport

January 21, 2026 by

What Happened The U.S. Department of War recently highlighted groundbreaking advancements at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport, where additive manufacturing (AM) is being leveraged to introduce cost-saving innovations (source). While the article focuses broadly on additive manufacturing’s cost efficiencies, emerging trends suggest integration with smart and bio-embedded materials—specifically living materials—is an under-covered frontier … Read more

On-Demand Spares in Defense: Navigating the Additive Manufacturing Mirage

January 19, 2026 by

What Happened Recent discussions, including a detailed analysis in The Additive Manufacturing Mirage in Defense (War on the Rocks, Dec 2025), highlight the gap between expectations and practical deployment of additive manufacturing (AM) for on-demand spares in defense logistics. While AM is championed as a solution for reducing physical inventory and enabling rapid part production, … Read more