HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat cooperate on 3D Printing for Nuclear Submarines

HII division Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) announced that the companies have advanced their efforts to integrate 3D printing into the shipbuilding process for nuclear-powered submarines.

The companies are focusing on the availability and use of marine-based alloys, such as copper-nickel, as an alternative to traditional casting molds. Recently, a copper-nickel deck drain assembly was identified as suitable for 3D printing. In collaboration with GDEB and supplier AMMCON, an appropriate component was successfully produced using additive manufacturing. This is now being installed in the Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802).

“As a leader in additive manufacturing for shipbuilding, we are aggressively looking for opportunities to find ways to incorporate this technology into mainstream shipbuilding,” said Dave Bolcar, NNS vice president of engineering and design. “This collaborative project leverages authorizations made by the Navy that streamline requirements for low-risk additive manufacturing parts. It is possible due to the foresight and longer-term development efforts by our engineers to deploy additive manufacturing marine alloys for shipbuilding.”

“Our submarine design and engineering teams are focused on working with our supply and construction partners to speed the adoption of innovative technologies,” said Megan Roberts, vice president of quality, waterfront engineering, radiological controls and fleet support for Electric Boat. “These first efforts to install additive-manufactured parts on submarines demonstrate the technology’s potential to dramatically reduce lead times for critical components, which will enable us to deliver more submarines faster, supporting the Navy’s fleet demands.”

“We are honored to contribute to the ongoing success of the Virginia-class submarine program in this innovative way,” AMMCON President Darrell Grow said. “As a longtime supplier for nuclear-powered submarines, our team understands the importance of these national security assets and remains committed to delivering the critical parts needed for their delivery.”

These latest developments in 3D printing follow HII’s announcement that NNS has been approved as a supplier of additive manufacturing components on NAVSEA platforms. This digitized process could lead to cost savings and reduced production times for naval vessels.

The use of 3D printing technologies in the shipbuilding industry is opening up new opportunities to optimize production and meet maritime requirements. These innovations illustrate the enormous potential of additive manufacturing to revolutionize the construction of submarines and other naval vessels, and could make a significant contribution to meeting the Navy’s fleet requirements.