Expeditionary 3D Printing and the Future of Combat Logistics

Podcast: The Business of Manufacturing Podcast · thebusinessadvancedmanufacturingpodcast

Opublikowano: 2026-08-29

During the CJLOTS 26 exercise in South Korea, U.S. Marines successfully utilized an Expeditionary Fabrication Facility (X-FAB) to 3D print a critical replacement part for a Coast Guard vessel. This on-site manufacturing reduced a typical multi-week shipping delay to a same-day repair, costing only twelve dollars. By reverse-engineering the component in a mobile laboratory, the military demonstrated how additive manufacturing can bypass traditional supply chain vulnerabilities in contested environments. This successful fix serves as a proof of concept for a broader Department of Defense strategy to enhance equipment readiness through deployable technology. Ultimately, shifting production to the point of...