Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) has deployed an ADDiTEC HYBRiD-X expeditionary hybrid manufacturing system as part of the Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026 and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) distributed Advanced Manufacturing network
It represents the first time a containerised manufacturing platform able to produce and repair critical metal components has been deployed aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier
This program is said to allow the ship to manufacture parts, reducing wait times for mechanical replacement components and increasing sustainability while operating at sea. It is considered to be a ‘major step’ towards unit-level self-sufficiency across the fleet, with the US Navy expecting it to help sustain operational flexibility during extended deployments through the printing of rapid replacement parts
“We have been successful integrating because of Sailors’ and Marines’ willingness to learn and work together,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ronald Bair, assigned to the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU), as a subject matter expert aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “Getting exposure to different parts and machines has helped me learn and improve while also training Sailors how to use the new equipment.”
“We now have the ability to diagnose the problem and come up with a solution,” said U.S. Navy A Theodore Roosevelt. “The entire idea is to be able to cut down lead time by a significant amount. This allows us to maintain capabilities and operational readiness.”
