When the U.S. authorities talks about provide chain safety, it’s now not theoretical. It’s now written straight into legislation and into protection contracts.
That element issues for Velo3D, which this week introduced a $32.6 million contract with the U.S. Division of Protection‘s (DoD) innovation arm to assist exchange gradual, historically manufactured metallic elements with certified 3D printed options for a crucial weapons program.
The deal comes simply days after the U.S. authorities formally banned the DoD from utilizing or procuring 3D printers made in, or digitally linked to, China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea underneath the newly signed Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal 12 months 2026.
Collectively, these two developments present that the place protection 3D printers are made now issues as a lot as what they’ll do.
A Manufacturing Bottleneck the Pentagon Desires Gone
Velo3D’s contract was awarded via the Protection Innovation Unit (DIU), which is a part of the DoD, underneath a program known as Mission FORGE.
Sure protection platforms nonetheless depend on historically manufactured metallic elements which are gradual to provide and tough to scale. These bottlenecks restrict how briskly the navy can improve manufacturing when demand goes up.
Below the settlement, Velo3D will work with the DIU, the U.S. Navy, and a serious protection prime contractor to prototype and qualify additively manufactured metallic elements that may exchange elements that are gradual and tough to provide.
If profitable, the strategy may enable the DoD to scale manufacturing sooner, with fewer provide chain dangers.
“We’re excited for the collaboration between DIU and trade companions like Velo3D to develop and qualify the AM resolution wanted to resolve a crucial manufacturing backlog,” stated DIU Program Supervisor Derek McBride. “The mixture of DIU’s experience in quickly responding to a number of the DoD’s most tough challenges and Velo3D’s capabilities as a complicated additive producer is the kind of shut collaboration we’d like with our Protection Industrial Base to assist the warfighter.”
Velo3D’s AM facility in Fremont, California. Picture courtesy of Velo3D by way of LinkedIn.
Why “Made within the USA” All of the sudden Turned Non-Negotiable
Simply three days earlier than Velo3D’s announcement, President Trump signed the FY2026 NDAA into legislation. For the primary time, additive manufacturing is handled as crucial protection infrastructure.
Below the brand new guidelines, the DoD and its suppliers are prohibited from working or shopping for 3D printers which are manufactured in, have software program developed in, or are networked via China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, until a uncommon national-interest waiver is granted. The legislation additionally blocks the renewal of current contracts tied to these techniques.
This implies protection contractors should now fastidiously scrutinize not solely the place their machines are constructed, but additionally the place the software program originates and the place information flows.
The result’s fewer provider choices and a stronger deal with U.S.-based additive manufacturing.
Why Velo3D Qualifies Below the New Guidelines
Velo3D already meets the NDAA’s new restrictions. The corporate defined that it’s the solely U.S.-based industrial-scale OEM with domestically developed laser powder mattress fusion expertise. Its Sapphire metallic 3D printers are assembled in the USA, meet DoD cybersecurity requirements, and might join securely to navy networks. And that issues now greater than ever.
“As the one U.S.-based industrial-scale OEM with domestically developed Laser Powder-Mattress Fusion expertise, Velo3D is completely honored for the chance to collaborate with the DoW, DIU, and the Navy to in the end ship an answer that helps the warfighter,” stated CEO Dr. Arun Jeldi. “By means of our Speedy Manufacturing Answer, we’re offering sooner half supply, enhanced reliability, and the surge capability wanted to fulfill evolving protection calls for.”
The contract additionally consists of an choice to discover the largest-format LPBF functionality within the U.S., doubtlessly increasing home manufacturing with out counting on overseas techniques.
Velo3D’s Arun Jeldi at Speedy+TCT. Picture courtesy of Velo3D.
The NDAA doesn’t simply limit foreign-made machines; it additionally pushes the DoD to dramatically develop its use of additive manufacturing.
The legislation requires qualifying as much as a million additively manufactured elements by 2027, together with elements for drones, logistics techniques, and floor fight automobiles. It additionally prioritizes changing elements affected by lengthy lead occasions and shrinking provider bases.
That mixture of extra additive manufacturing and fewer overseas suppliers creates a strong incentive to construct extra functionality at residence. In truth, Velo3D’s contract proves that this shift is already taking form, guaranteeing that the U.S. navy can produce crucial {hardware} rapidly, securely, and with out dependence on adversaries.
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