Navy requesting $23 million in RDT&E funding for 3D printing

The Navy is seeking $23 million in research and development funding for 3D printing efforts in its fiscal year 2020 budget request, according to a top service official.

Navy acquisition chief Hondo Geurts told the House Armed Services intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee today the service projects requesting $66 million for 3D printing over the future years defense program.

"A lot of that is so we can network all of our 3D-printed files together, create models," Geurts told the subcommittee.

"One of the challenges is how to certify a part with a 3D-printed technology that's been certified traditionally. That's where that research is going," he added.

Inside Defense previously reported the Marine Corps" plans to use 3D printing, which is also known as additive manufacturing, to establish supply chain efficiencies.

The Marine Corps recently created an Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell headquartered within the service’s acquisition arm to provide "a 24/7 help desk" devoted to additive manufacturing.