America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) have awarded $1.1 million through the Allied Additive Manufacturing Interoperability (AAMI) Program to establish metal 3D printing equivalency and interoperability between U.S. and U.K. defense supply chains.
Funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering’s Manufacturing Technology Office, the initiative focuses on laser powder bed fusion of critical components, addresses barriers to allied collaboration, and supports the development of international qualification standards. The call, released in March 2025, resulted in two selected awardees.
The project winners are two teams: the first is led by Defense and aerospace company Lockheed Martin in partnership with ASTM International and Additive Manufacturing Solutions, Ltd., while the second is led by multinational power management company Eaton Corporation in collaboration with EOS North America, Materials Solutions (a Siemens Energy business), and 3Degrees. Throughout the program, both teams will report progress at the America Makes Technical Review and Exchange (TRX) and other industry events.
Scaling AM for Defense Supply Chains
Additive manufacturing is increasingly critical to industrial capabilities in both the U.S. and the U.K., yet executing AM at scale remains a complex challenge. Success requires a deep understanding of materials, equipment, design intent, specifications, and standards, making process and part qualification a major technological and economic hurdle.
Both nations face shared obstacles in adopting AM, including process certification, intellectual property protection, secure data exchange, and integrated supply chain management. This project aligns with the U.K. Advanced Manufacturing Strategy and the U.S. Regional Sustainment Framework, seeking to overcome these challenges and build a resilient, globally connected defense industrial base capable of meeting complex logistical demands.
“Defense sustainment still relies on legacy materials and processes that fall short of today’s operational demands. This effort enables teams to propose and demonstrate a qualification framework for metal additive manufacturing suppliers in both the U.S. and the U.K., ensuring consistent parts across allied nations,” said Ben DiMarco, Technology Transition Director at America Makes. “We’re honored to work with leading global experts to prove AM equivalency and interoperability. By advancing laser powder bed fusion qualification and accelerating real-world adoption, we’re demonstrating how collaboration can overcome technical, regulatory, and supply chain hurdles to deliver tangible results to the warfighter and allied defense operations.”
Past America Makes Initiatives and Broader Impact
In August, America Makes and the NCDMM opened a $1.7 million funding call to expand the pool of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)–qualified AM suppliers. Backed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD ManTech), the Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment – Supplier Qualification (JAQS-SQ) – Group 1 program will issue up to five awards, each capped at $340,000 in federal funding. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. ET on October 2, 2025, with award notifications expected on November 10.
Earlier in May, America Makes launched a new project called Quality Test and Inspection Methods Expediency (QTIME), offering up to $5 million in funding to advance non-destructive inspection (NDI) technologies for AM. Funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office, the initiative seeks to enhance inspection methods for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) processes.
The 3D Printing Industry Awards are back. Make your nominations now.
Do you operate a 3D printing start-up? Reach readers, potential investors, and customers with the 3D Printing Industry Start-up of Year competition.
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Linkedin.
Featured image shows The America Makes facility in Youngstown, Ohio. Photo via America Makes.
