DoD prohibited from utilizing or procuring additive manufacturing programs made in or networked by way of China, Russia, Iran & North Korea

The USA’s Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) now treats additive manufacturing as essential defence infrastructure and formally prohibits the operation or procurement of additive manufacturing machines which are manufactured in, have software program developed in, or are networked by way of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea by the Division of Protection (DoD).

President Trump signed the NDAA for Fiscal Yr 2026 into regulation this week. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are thought of ‘strategic adversaries’ of the US.

It means the DoD and its suppliers will want a slender national-interest waiver to make use of additive manufacturing programs made in or networked by way of the aforementioned international locations (Sec. 880(c)). There are additionally prohibitions in place for the renewal of current contracts for stated merchandise (Sec. 880(a)).

This edict doesn’t concern machines operated or procured for testing, evaluation, and coaching associated to intelligence, digital warfare, and data warfare operations, and the Secretary of Protection might in any other case waive the prohibition on a ‘case-by-case’ foundation.

It comes because the NDAA and DoD search to speed up the applying of additive manufacturing expertise by way of a sophisticated manufacturing program that goals to qualify and approve as much as a million elements (Sec. 220A(a)).

Part 220A of the NDAA says: “Not later than December 31, 2027, the Secretary of Protection, in coordination with the Secretaries of the navy departments, shall goal to qualify and approve for manufacturing and supply not fewer than 1,000,000 elements or elements of the Division of Protection that use superior manufacturing strategies, with funding topic to the provision of appropriations or different funds. In doing so, the Secretary shall make sure that expedited processes for adoption of superior manufacturing merchandise are utilized throughout the elements of the Division of Protection and lifecycle phases for brand spanking new and current programs.”

By way of this endeavour, there may be point out of a program to additively manufacture ‘sure varieties of unmanned aerial programs’ no later than September 30, 2026 (Sec. 220A(b)). This effort will goal to certify new supplies and processes to fabricate 25-100% of the elements of a small unmanned aerial system used as a tactical loitering munitions, a small unmanned aerial system used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and a small unmanned system used for logistics missions.

Sec. 220A(c) of the NDAA additionally remarks that, not later than September 30, 2026, the  Beneath Secretary of Protection for Acquisition and Sustainment shall, in coordination with the Beneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Engineering and the Secretaries of the navy departments, perform a program to provide alternative elements for navy programs with diminishing manufacturing sources and materials shortages utilizing superior or additive manufacturing strategies. Not less than 5 elements will likely be chosen for testing, analysis and certification below this system. Take a look at knowledge will then be shared throughout all navy departments with mechanisms for knowledge reciprocity for outcomes to be established.

Lastly, updates to the NDAA affirm a program to additively manufacture elements for Floor Fight Techniques (Sec. 220A(e)). Sustainment vulnerabilities within the floor tools provide chain of the Military will likely be recognized, with additive manufacturing deployed to restore, improve or modernise floor fight programs the place relevant. Once more, at least 5 elements with lengthy lead occasions will likely be chosen and plans, in coordination with Military Growth Command, will likely be developed to combine additive manufacturing strategies and applied sciences within the design, manufacturing, and sustainment of next-generation fight automobiles and their applied sciences. Sec 220A(e) says: “The developed applied sciences ought to prioritise interoperability throughout navy platforms and integration with different navy providers.”

Entry the complete Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Yr 2026 right here.

Seek for sections 220 and 880 to get the complete element on probably the most vital AM-related developments.

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