NAVAIR Contract Pushes Metal Additive Manufacturing Toward Airworthy Production

A new Naval Air Systems Command contract is set to push metal additive manufacturing deeper into certified aerospace production, with direct implications for U.S. defense suppliers, specialty alloy producers, and precision fabrication teams.

Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company, announced on April 22 that it received a $31 million NAVAIR contract supporting the Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative. The program is designed to speed testing, qualification, and certification of metal 3D-printed parts while improving operational readiness across naval aviation.

The agreement covers six metal alloy Material Process Combinations, or MPCs, which define the physical and mechanical property data needed to qualify repeatable production. Existing AlSi7Mg and IN718 packages will be expanded. At the same time, 17-4PH and 7050-RAM2 will be added to a portfolio that already includes 316L stainless steel, cobalt chrome, and Ti64 titanium alloy.

For metals and fabrication professionals, the contract points to a clear shift: additive manufacturing is moving from prototype work toward controlled, certifiable production environments. That raises the bar for powder quality, machine repeatability, fatigue performance, post-processing, inspection, and documentation across the defense supply chain.

The program also includes thin-wall fatigue characterization, a critical step for validating additively manufactured structures exposed to vibration, cyclic loading, and harsh operating conditions. NAVAIR will also receive three M Line metal 3D printing systems, one M2 Series 5 printer, technical services, process instructions, material data curves, and training for manufacturing, quality, design, materials, and machine-operator teams.

The broader takeaway is not just that the Navy is buying more equipment. It is building a pathway for qualified, airworthy metal AM components at scale. For U.S. suppliers in aerospace alloys, CNC machining, heat treatment, inspection, and finishing, this type of contract could create new demand for defense-ready processes that reduce lead times and lower supply chain risk.

As aircraft fleets age and readiness demands rise, certified metal 3D printing may become a more practical tool for producing complex, low-volume, mission-critical parts.

Article & Image Source: GE Aerospace Newsroom — April 22, 2026