Colibrium Additive secures $31M NAVAIR contract to advance metal AM certification for U.S. Navy

Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace subsidiary, has been awarded a $31 million contract by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) under its Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative. The deal targets the development of six metal alloy Material Process Combinations (MPCs), expanding existing packages for AlSi7Mg and IN718 while adding 17-4PH and 7050-RAM2 to a portfolio that already includes 316L, CoCr, and Ti64. Colibrium will supply three M Line metal PBF systems and one M2 Series 5 printer, along with a comprehensive AddWorks services package covering licensed material data, manufacturing instructions, and multi-disciplinary training for Navy personnel across manufacturing, quality, design, and materials disciplines.

This contract directly addresses the structural bottleneck in military aviation AM: the technology has outpaced the qualification frameworks needed for deployment on operational aircraft. The aerospace qualification grind pattern is in full effect here — NAVAIR is not buying printers; it is buying certified material datasets and repeatable process documentation that can survive program-level scrutiny. The inclusion of thin-wall fatigue characterization is particularly significant, as thin-wall geometries are common in aerospace structures but historically difficult to certify for flight-critical applications. This deal mirrors parallel efforts across the U.S. defense sector, where commands are racing to build the regulatory infrastructure that allows AM to function as a reliable supply chain tool rather than a prototyping novelty.

For Colibrium Additive, this contract converts its deep aerospace pedigree into a repeatable government revenue stream, but execution risk remains high. The company must deliver MPCs that pass NAVAIR's own qualification gates, not just internal validation, and the training component means the Navy's internal capability must actually scale. The practical test will be whether the six MPCs translate into fielded replacement parts within the contract period, or whether the datasets become shelfware awaiting further program-level certification cycles.