Stratasys demonstrates distributed manufacturing capabilities with Fleetwerx and the US Navy during Trident Warrior 25

Stratasys recently participated in Trident Warrior 25, the US Navy’s flagship Fleet experimentation exercise, demonstrating how advanced manufacturing keeps military units operational at sea and in forward deployed locations. In partnership with Fleetwerx and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE), Stratasys supported the Joint Advanced Manufacturing Cell (JAMC) with field deployable 3D printers and on-demand production through Stratasys Direct.

The JAMC was the Department of Defence’s largest distributed manufacturing demonstration to date, connecting assets across more than 8000 miles. The exercise allowed the navy to print parts in theatre or reach back to Stratasys Direct for higher volume or complex production, creating a wide ranging ecosystem of support and options across forward deployed locations.

During the exercise, seven different sites leveraged Stratasys printers, with all parts meeting US military specifications. Trident Warrior 25 also demonstrated that by deploying 3D printers in the field, there is reduced reliance on traditional logistics chains. Lightweight, corrosion resistant polymer parts were used to create new components, replace broken parts, and produce rapid prototypes in-theatre, supported by reach back production from Stratasys Direct.

‘Trident Warrior 25 demonstrated the value of a multi-echelon polymer advanced manufacturing network,’ said Morgan Bower, programme manager, Fleetwerx. ‘By pairing field ready solutions in forward deployed environments with cutting edge manufacturing expertise, the team cut lead times for critical components and boosted mission resilience.’

‘Our collaboration with Stratasys and Fleetwerx during Trident Warrior highlights how academia, industry, and the military can work together to validate and accelerate new technologies,’ said Chris C Curran, programme manager, CAMRE. ‘These efforts are crucial to building resilient, distributed manufacturing ecosystems for the fleet.’

‘We are focused on integrating advanced manufacturing into logistics and maintenance operations to enhance readiness and resilience,’ said Lieutenant Colonel, Michael D Radigan, US Marine Corps, Marine Innovation Unit. ‘Exercises like Trident Warrior demonstrate how distributed manufacturing will add resilience to supply chains and deliver increased readiness and lethality to combatant commanders.’

Trident Warrior 25 showcased the practical benefits of additive manufacturing while highlighting the importance of hands-on operator training. Through its partnership with Fleetwerx, the Naval Postgraduate School’s CAMRE provides sailors with real world experience using 3D printing, enabling them to apply polymer based solutions directly to mission critical challenges and help reduce downtime.

‘Trident Warrior 25 showed that combining forward deployed 3D printing with reach back production provides fast, reliable, and scalable solutions,’ said Foster Ferguson, vice president, industrial business, Stratasys. ‘Supporting both in-theatre printing and Stratasys Direct on-demand production helped reduce downtime and maintain readiness, demonstrating practical, scalable solutions across thousands of miles.’