DoD Aims to 3D Print 1 Million Parts by 2027, Bans Foreign Tech from China and Russia

The Future of Defense Manufacturing Act of 2025 is essentially the military’s plan to drag its supply chain into the 21st century using 3D printing—or what the policy folks call 'additive manufacturing.' This bill is a massive push to upgrade how the Department of Defense (DoD) makes and fixes things, setting some ambitious goals and drawing some hard lines around who they can buy technology from.

The New Tech Iron Curtain

First, let’s talk security. Section 2 puts a hard stop on the DoD buying or even operating 3D printers that have ties to specific countries: China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. This isn't just about where the machine was physically made; the ban extends to printers whose operating software or data storage is managed by a company based in one of these 'covered foreign countries.' The goal is simple: lock down the defense supply chain and prevent potential espionage or sabotage through critical manufacturing tools. If you’re a domestic tech company, this ban effectively clears the field for you to sell to the military. For the DoD, it means they have to be extremely diligent about the tech they use, right down to the software license, though they can still use the banned equipment for intelligence testing if the Secretary of Defense signs off on it.

The Million-Part Challenge

This bill sets a serious, measurable target for modernization. Section 5 mandates that the DoD must qualify and approve at least 1,000,000 parts or components made using advanced manufacturing techniques by the end of 2027. Think about that number—it’s huge. It means the military is serious about pivoting from slow, traditional manufacturing to on-demand digital production. If they hit this target, it means faster repairs for everything from fighter jets to tanks, and less reliance on warehouses full of dusty spare parts. For the folks running military depots and maintenance shops, this means a rapid, necessary shift in training and operations.

Fixing the Broken Supply Chain with a Printer

The most practical impacts of this bill focus on solving one of the military's biggest headaches: diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS). When a 40-year-old aircraft needs a replacement bolt that the original supplier stopped making 20 years ago, that plane sits on the tarmac. Section 7 sets up a program to use 3D printing specifically to create replacements for these obsolete parts. Crucially, the testing for these 3D-printed parts will be based on performance, not just whether they match the original, outdated paper specifications. This is a big deal because it allows the military to use modern materials and designs that are often better than the original, speeding up the process of getting equipment back into the field. Sections 6, 8, and 9 also create dedicated programs to 3D print drones, metal parts (like titanium and aluminum), and parts for Army ground combat systems, all aimed at reducing long lead times.

Standardizing the Digital Factory Floor

If the DoD is going to 3D print a million parts, they can't have the Army, Navy, and Air Force all testing the same titanium bracket three different ways. Section 12 is the bureaucratic engine of this bill, requiring the creation of comprehensive new guidance and a technical manual by September 30, 2026. This manual will standardize everything: testing procedures, cybersecurity requirements for the digital blueprints, and rules for intellectual property (IP). This is the part that makes the whole system work. It means that once the Navy certifies a 3D-printed part, the Air Force can use that same data without starting from scratch. It also requires the DoD to prioritize domestic manufacturing and partner with existing Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs), which are often tied to universities and research centers, ensuring that the tech stays home and the talent pool grows.