SPEE3D Cuts U.S. Army Replacement Part Time From 6 Weeks to 10 Hours — Wins Expeditionary 3D Printing Award

From Six Weeks to Ten Hours

When a critical component fails in a contested environment, standard U.S. Army logistics can take six to ten weeks to deliver a replacement — time a deployed unit cannot afford. But a recent demonstration proved a faster path is possible.

At a Tennessee training range in February 2026, the University of Tennessee's Defense Development and Applied Research Center (DARC), the Tennessee Army National Guard, and DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL) used SPEE3D's deployable cold spray metal additive manufacturing technology to produce a mission-critical vehicle part in under ten hours.

Real Mission, Real Results

An armored combat support vehicle was pulled from service after a failed Battle Lock Handle rendered its door locking mechanism inoperable. Without the part, the crew could not safely return to base — a scenario that, across the U.S. Army, typically triggers a six-to-ten-week wait as replacement components travel from manufacturers through depots, airlifts, and convoys to reach forward units.

Using SPEE3D's Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit, soldiers and engineers designed, printed, heat-treated, and machined a replacement part in under ten hours. The part was then delivered by drone to the vehicle — proving the entire process can work in a real mission scenario.

Expeditionary and Tactical 3D Printing Excellence Award

The initiative was recognized at MILAM 2026 in Tampa, where DARC, the Tennessee Army National Guard, and DEVCOM ARL received the Expeditionary and Tactical 3D Printing Excellence Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to delivering advanced manufacturing solutions at the tactical edge.

This allows our Soldiers and maintenance leaders to help shape the Army's future of maintaining our critical combat systems when we are deployed and in harm's way, said Army Lt. Col. Colby Tippens, Executive Officer, 278th ACR. If we can give our Soldiers the ability to build critical repair parts in a timely manner that will help improve combat power, enhance readiness, and reduce risk and our logistics footprint that could ultimately help save Soldiers' lives.