Navy Opens the Door to 3D-Printed Submarine Parts

New Directive Removes Hurdles

The Navy has released new technical requirements that allow 3D printing to play a larger role in submarine construction and maintenance. The service said it is removing administrative and engineering hurdles that previously slowed adoption of additive manufacturing for legacy parts.

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, director of submarine programs, said the change is necessary to keep submarine programs on schedule. Additive manufacturing gives the Navy a way to work around supply chain constraints and part obsolescence. The directive hands engineers, shipbuilders, and suppliers authority to execute at scale.

What Changes

The Navy will now use 3D-printed materials to substitute legacy cast and wrought parts. Previously, each substitution required engineering assessments and testing that created bottlenecks. The new approach prioritizes speed without sacrificing quality or safety standards.

The Navy also pointed to recent successes. The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center reverse-engineered a six-blade rotor for a chilled-water pump aboard an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The team printed four prototypes in two weeks and installed the final version. The prototype cost $17.63, the final part $131.21, while the conventional alternative would have cost around $316,544.16.

Broader Military Interest

3D printing has emerged as a useful advancement for military branches in recent years. Additive supply chains can be cheaper, faster, and less burdensome than traditional supply chains. The Defense Department has previously raised concerns about cyber vulnerabilities in 3D manufacturing programs, but the Navy says safety and quality standards will remain strictly enforced.