Stratasys‘ contract manufacturing arm Stratasys Direct has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of War‘s JAMA IV Pilot Parts Program, a multimillion-dollar initiative to accelerate the validation and deployment of 3D printed components across military platforms. Stratasys already holds Program of Record status with both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Real-World Impact Across Active Military Platforms
Stratasys technology is already delivering measurable results on the ground. The U.S. Air Force integrates the company’s systems across its C-17 fleet to produce microvanes, aerodynamic components estimated to save approximately $14 million in annual fuel costs. Reduced lead times for 3D printed replacement parts further demonstrate that the technology has moved well past the proof-of-concept stage and into sustained operational use.
That footprint reflects a business with real scale behind it. Stratasys Direct ships over 100,000 parts annually to defense customers, supported by double-digit revenue growth in aerospace and defense throughout 2025. For company leadership, the JAMA program represents less a new direction than an acceleration of work already underway, a formal pathway to qualify and deploy more parts, faster, across a broader set of active platforms.
“In 2025, Stratasys saw double-digit annual revenue growth from aerospace and defense, demonstrating that additive manufacturing is becoming a key capability for defense sustainment and supply chain resilience,” said Foster Ferguson, Vice President of the Industrial Business Unit at Stratasys.
He added: “Through Stratasys Direct, we combine Stratasys technology with production-scale additive manufacturing services and deep engineering expertise to help defense organizations validate and produce components that keep mission-critical systems operational.”
Defense Budgets Reflect Surging Confidence in 3D Printing
Military investment in additive manufacturing is rising sharply. Funding allocated through U.S. DoW’s budget programs reached $3.3 billion in fiscal year 2026, an 83% increase over the previous year. Analysts anticipate this upward trajectory will continue through the end of the decade as armed forces increasingly turn to digital fabrication for supply chain resilience, sustainment operations, and platform modernization. The drivers are straightforward: mission-critical applications demand precision, repeatability, and the ability to scale quickly when traditional supply chains fall short.
Stratasys is far from alone in pursuing this opportunity. Velo3D secured a $9.8 million, five-year IDIQ contract under the Defense Logistics Agency‘s JAMA Pilot Parts Program, the same initiative that selected Stratasys Direct, creating a procurement channel for certified additively manufactured metal components across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
At the research and qualification level, ecosystem programs are working to close the gap between capability and deployment. America Makes launched two DoD-backed project calls worth over $35 million, including the Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment, Supplier Qualification program, which provides $10.5 million to unify qualification requirements for suppliers operating laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) systems.
3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here.
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Featured image shows Stratasys technology in the aerospace and defense sectors. Photo via Stratasys.
