Future of Defense Manufacturing Act of 2025

This bill pushes the Defense Department to use more advanced manufacturing, like 3D printing, to make parts faster, cheaper, and closer to where they’re needed. It blocks the use of 3D printers and related systems from certain foreign countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia), with narrow exceptions and a possible waiver, to reduce security risks . It sets up shared “innovation hubs” with industry and universities, using common tools and data systems, so teams can prototype and produce parts more quickly and securely . The Department aims to qualify at least 1,000,000 additively made parts by the end of 2027 and to speed up approval steps so parts can reach the field sooner .

Several focused programs tackle urgent needs: certify 3D-printed parts for small drones used for missions like surveillance and logistics by 2026; test and approve replacements for “hard-to-find” parts across older systems; and 3D‑print metal parts that often have long wait times. Testing focuses on how parts perform, not just if they match old specs, and data is shared across the services to avoid duplicate testing. The plan also builds a list of obsolete parts and sets up new licensing so the government can legally print what it needs . It targets Army ground vehicles by identifying weak spots in the supply chain, printing replacements for high‑delay parts, and planning for next‑gen vehicles that are easier to sustain with printed parts . The bill also improves work with close allies on shared standards, training, and research in advanced manufacturing .

To make this stick, the Department must issue clear guidance and a practical, service‑wide manual. This includes cybersecurity rules, AI‑driven testing and modeling, quality checks that work across different machines, protections for intellectual property, stockpile advice for critical metals, and training paths for service members. It updates existing policy to cut record‑keeping when a printed part meets or beats the original, and sets timelines for getting guidance in place for key metals in 2026 and then for all essential metals by 2027. It also uses a shared data hub so parts approved by one service can be reused by others without re‑testing .