AML3D secures contract to manufacture US submarine spare parts via wire arc additive manufacturing

Adelaide-based AML3D has secured a contract to produce metal spare parts for the US Navy, utilizing its proprietary Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) technology, a form of Directed Energy Development (DED). The project focuses on the production of components that are currently obsolete or have long lead times, bypassing the need for traditional casting or forging tooling. By leveraging its DED process, AML3D is able to print large-scale, high-strength metal components on demand, directly addressing the supply chain bottlenecks inherent in legacy maritime maintenance. This initiative aligns with the US Department of Defense strategy to integrate advanced manufacturing into the submarine industrial base.

This contract highlights the increasing adoption of DED in defense applications where the ability to print large-scale, high-integrity metal parts without tooling is a distinct advantage over powder-bed fusion methods like LPBF. The maritime sector faces significant challenges with legacy parts, where the original supply chain has often dissolved, making AM a critical solution for sustainment. AML3D competes in the large-format metal AM space against established players like Sciaky and various robotic welding-based AM providers. As the US Navy accelerates its adoption of digital manufacturing, the ability to certify and validate DED-produced parts for critical submarine systems remains a primary market driver for growth in this segment.

For AML3D, the immediate priority is the successful qualification and certification of these components to meet stringent US Navy maritime standards. Success in this contract will depend on the repeatability of their WAM process and the ability to provide comprehensive digital twins and material data for every printed part. Buyers in the defense sector should focus on the company's progress in scaling production throughput while maintaining consistent metallurgical properties across large-format builds.