To expand the contested logistics demonstration and prototyping program to include commercial additive manufacturing facilities in contested logistics environments, and for other purposes.
This bill would modify the contested logistics demonstration and prototyping program established under the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to explicitly include commercial additive manufacturing (AM) facilities. In practical terms, it would allow civilian or commercial 3D-printing facilities to participate in efforts to demonstrate and prototype resilient, near-to-use production of parts in contested logistics environments. Additionally, the bill extends the program’s end date to December 31, 2030, giving more time to develop and test these capabilities. The overarching goal is to improve international product support in challenging supply-chain conditions by enabling rapid, distributed production of parts closer to where they’re needed.
Key Points
- 1Expands the program to include commercial additive manufacturing facilities for rapid, distributed production of parts near the point of use.
- 2Inserts the addition as a new item under the program’s eligible activities in Section 842(b)(2) of the NDAA 2024.
- 3Extends the program’s timeline, moving the operative date to December 31, 2030.
- 4Maintains the core objective of advancing international product support capabilities in contested logistics environments.
- 5Shows congressional intent to broaden public-private collaboration and leverage civilian AM capabilities for defense logistics needs.