AML3D lands initial production parts order for US Navy submarine program
AML3D (ASX: AL3) has received an initial production parts order from Austal USA Advanced Technologies, valued at approximately AU$0.5 million, to supply large, high-pressure Copper-Nickel (CuNi) fluid control components for use in US Navy nuclear submarines. The components will be manufactured at AML3D’s US headquarters and technology centre in Stow, Ohio, with payment structured as 50% upfront and the balance due upon delivery, testing and commissioning. Completion is expected by the end of Q3 FY27.
The order marks a meaningful transition: procurement of these components moves from traditional manufacturing methods to AML3D’s Advanced Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAM®) technology. For investors, this represents the conversion of a successful qualification program into a live, revenue-generating production contract.
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From qualification to production — what this order represents
WAM® is AML3D’s patented process that uses robotic welding science, automation, and proprietary software to 3D print metal parts, replacing conventional casting, forging and billet machining. The result is a manufacturing method the company says is more efficient, cost-effective, and delivers better environmental outcomes than traditional processes.
In defence manufacturing, a “qualification program” is the rigorous process by which a technology must prove it meets strict military specifications before it can be used in actual production. It is a high bar, and passing it is a prerequisite for any commercial work within the supply chain.
This order signals that AML3D has cleared that bar with the US Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB). Years of component and materials qualification work have now converted into a paying production contract, adding a second revenue stream alongside ARCEMY® system sales. Sixteen of the 17 ARCEMY® systems deployed to date already support the US Navy SIB, and that installed base now sits alongside an emerging component manufacturing business.
An earlier submarine component order, a $2.6 million contract with BlueForge Alliance to manufacture five discontinued legacy parts, pushed AML3D’s cumulative US defence contracts beyond AU$30 million and established the component manufacturing precedent that this Austal USA order now builds on.
CEO Sean Ebert
“…We view this order for production parts from Austal USA as a strong endorsement of our WAM® technology.”
US Navy market opportunity — the scale behind this order
The AU$0.5 million initial order is best understood in the context of the broader demand picture the US Navy has signalled. According to AML3D’s July 2025 Letter of Intent announcement, the US Navy has forecast a need for up to 100 advanced additive manufacturing systems and 1,600 additively manufactured components by 2030.
AML3D already holds a meaningful position within that ecosystem. With 16 ARCEMY® systems deployed in support of the US Navy SIB, the company has an established operational footprint before component manufacturing revenue has fully begun to scale.
The announcement makes clear that demand for component manufacturing is now complementing, rather than replacing, demand for systems sales. Both revenue streams are active simultaneously, which the company describes as central to its US Scale-up strategy.
| Metric | Current | US Navy Forecast (by 2030) |
|---|---|---|
| ARCEMY® systems deployed | 17 total (16 to US Navy SIB) | Up to 100 |
| Additively manufactured components | Initial order underway | 1,600 |
Note: US Navy forecast figures are sourced from AML3D’s July 2025 Letter of Intent announcement.
CEO Sean Ebert
“…The US Navy has said they expect 1,600 different components will be additively manufactured by 2030. Our growth story is just beginning.”
What comes next for AML3D’s US scale-up
AML3D’s US Scale-up strategy rests on two pillars: component manufacturing and ARCEMY® system sales, both directed at supporting the US Navy SIB. This order activates the component manufacturing pillar in a commercially meaningful way.
The company describes the current order explicitly as an “initial” production parts order, a term that suggests further orders may follow, though none have been announced or guaranteed. The nearest tangible milestone for investors to monitor is delivery, testing and commissioning of these components, expected by the end of Q3 FY27.
Key near-term indicators to watch:
- Delivery, testing and commissioning of the initial CuNi fluid control components by end of Q3 FY27
- Continued ARCEMY® system deployment demand, with 17 systems already placed and US demand described as continuing to grow
- The US Navy’s 2030 component target of 1,600 additively manufactured parts as the longer-term demand backdrop
Investors exploring the financial foundation underpinning this growth phase can find our full explainer on AML3D’s FY26 financial results, which covers the H2 EBITDA profit swing, the $16.8 million order book rolled into FY27, and the $26.7 million cash position funding US capacity expansion.
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