Continuous Composites teams with Army ManTech

Continuous Composites said on June 22 that it had been awarded a multi-year contract with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center to advance composite additive manufacturing for missile components. The work is being carried out with the Army’s Manufacturing Technology program and America Makes, according to the company. The stated aim is to improve the capability, producibility and affordability of parts for current and future missile platforms. ### Which Army organizations are involved, and what are they funding? The June 22 award names the U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center, or AvMC, as the contracting Army organization behind the effort. Army ManTech is the manufacturing partner on the program, and America Makes is also participating, according to Continuous Composites and follow-on industry coverage. (continuouscomposites.com) Army ManTech says its role is to move manufacturing solutions from design refinement through pilot production and demonstrations so they are ready for scale-up and transition. The program says it works with industry, Army engineers and acquisition stakeholders on design-for-manufacture reviews, pilot line development and integration with depot and original equipment manufacturer capabilities. ### What is CF3D, and why is the Army testing it on missile parts? (continuouscomposites.com) Continuous Composites’ CF3D is a continuous-fiber 3D-printing process designed for structural composite manufacturing. The company says the process combines fiber steering, advanced materials and automated manufacturing to produce complex composite structures for aerospace and defense uses. MSN, citing the company announcement, reported that the Army is evaluating whether continuous-fiber additive manufacturing can deliver the yield, repeatability and production speed needed for missile structures rather than just prototype parts. (pit.army.mil) Continuous Composites Chief Executive Steve Starner said in the company release that the work is intended to show whether the technology can meet defense manufacturing requirements at scale. (continuouscomposites.com) ### Why does this matter for missile manufacturing rather than just 3D-printing demos? The company said the contract is focused on “current and future missile platforms,” which places the effort inside an existing Army push to improve manufacturability and supply resilience for weapons systems. Army ManTech materials describe the program as targeting processes that improve producibility, reduce cost and strengthen supply-chain resilience. (msn.com) The Army has used ManTech before on missile-related manufacturing bottlenecks. In a 2021 Army article, the service said it had partnered with industry on more affordable manufacturing solutions for complex missile-seeker components used on systems including the AH-64 Apache and Future Vertical Lift applications. ### Where could universities and test centers fit into a program like this? America Makes’ participation points to a broader manufacturing-development model that often depends on outside materials, testing and workforce partners. (continuouscomposites.com) The Army says ManTech projects are built around pilot production, technical validation and transition to operational use, which are areas where university labs and applied research centers often support materials characterization, qualification work and training. (army.mil) That is an inference from the program structure, not a stated feature of this specific award. The Army’s own advanced-manufacturing messaging has tied additive manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence and composite materials to sustainment and production needs. That creates a lane for research institutions that can provide test environments, process validation and workforce development alongside manufacturers and defense customers. ### What happens next in this effort? (pit.army.mil) The next phase is process maturation under the multi-year contract, with Continuous Composites, Army ManTech, AvMC and America Makes working to determine whether CF3D can be qualified for missile-component production. Continuous Composites said the effort is aimed at parts for both current and future missile platforms, and Army ManTech says its projects are intended to move toward pilot production and scale-up once manufacturing readiness is demonstrated. (army.mil) (continuouscomposites.com)