The Defense Logistics Agency has awarded a contract for the procurement of additively manufactured parts for the F-15 aircraft.
The agency said Monday the contract covers the production and delivery of 1,300 pylon bumpers, a critical part that prevents structural damage to the F-15 aircraft. The contract was awarded to an unnamed commercial company through an open, competitive process for the first time. The DLA previously awarded contracts for 3D-printed parts through sole-source commercial contracts and sole-source organic contracts.
Benefits of Additively Manufactured Parts
Additive manufacturing enables the production of parts right where they are needed. Through the process, troops can print the parts by themselves whenever they need them. This eliminates transportation and handling costs, storage space and longer lead times.
“Warfighters won’t have to wait for a ship to bring the parts they need across the ocean; they just need the technical data file and the machine to print them,” said Tony Delgado, additive manufacturing program manager at DLA.
DLA Collaboration With Service Branches
DLA is working with different services to boost 3D printing for military procurement. The agency established the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Product Team to streamline the procurement of additively manufactured parts. Some examples include parachute rip cords and B-2 bomber knobs for the U.S. Air Force, fuel pump module protective caps for the Marine Corps, M1 Abrams tank tube assemblies for the Army and electronic covers for H-60 Seahawk helicopters for the Navy.
