First 3D metal part for US Navy vessel
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding has delivered the first 3D-printed metal part for installation on the US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, the company announced on the 29 January.
The part – a piping assembly – will be evaluated for a one-year period onboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. In 2018, NAVSEA approved the technical standards for 3D printing after extensive collaboration with the company and industry partners that involved the rigorous printing of test parts and materials, and extensive development of an engineered test programme.
Charles Southall, VP of engineering and design, Newport News Shipbuilding, said: ‘We are pleased to have worked so closely with our navy partners to get to the point where the first 3D metal part will be installed on an aircraft carrier.
‘The advancement of additive manufacturing will help revolutionise naval engineering and shipbuilding. It also is a significant step forward in our digital transformation of shipbuilding processes to increase efficiency, safety and affordability.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
-
![SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort]()
SOF Week 2026: NSW expands commercial UxS push to maritime platforms as USASOC advances FPV drone effort
The US Army Special Operations Command and Naval Special Warfare are accelerating efforts to integrate commercial uncrewed systems, with NSW broadening its solicitation to include USVs and UUVs alongside new requirements for ISR, kinetic operations and swarm technologies.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission]()
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
