Reference News Network, August 5 report. According to the U.S. "Defense" monthly magazine website on July 31, the U.S. Navy is investing in building a new 3D printing facility on the remote island of Guam, aiming to shorten the time and save costs when repairing critical components.

This project, called the "Guam Additive Manufacturing and Mobility Accelerator Program" (GAMMA), is scheduled to be put into use in April 2026. Alex Benham, the project leader, said that GAMMA, managed by the non-profit organization Applied Research Associates based in Maryland, will have advanced additive manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing systems.

Benham said in an interview that the GAMMA project will provide the U.S. Navy with the ability to "deploy parts or components on demand." He added that through additive manufacturing, the Navy can produce a wide range of devices, from large metal components to small plastic radio dials, within the same facility.

In the fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Navy awarded a $5 million initial contract to launch the project. In the coming months, the Applied Research Associates is expected to receive an additional $12 million, as well as other funding from the nonprofit Blue Forging Alliance and the Office of the Naval Ocean Industry Base Program.

Benham said that Guam's geographical location in the Western Pacific gives it an advantage in regional military mobilization and rapid deployment, but its remote location also has disadvantages: the repair waiting time for critical components needed at Guam's naval facilities is often frustratingly long, as related components have to be transported from the mainland United States to Guam. Therefore, even minor faults, such as a broken submarine valve, are difficult to resolve.

Neil Olinje, chairman and CEO of the Applied Research Associates, said that his organization has been closely cooperating with the U.S. Navy's submarine tenders to ensure that they can "truly meet the needs of the submarine industrial base."

Benham said that the ability to manufacture on demand will spare the Navy trouble. He pointed out that producing parts on the island rather than transporting them to the island "saves a lot of time, and the cost saved by not deploying ships during this period is astronomical."

Benham added that these broad capabilities will also benefit the facility itself, enabling it to "rapidly and cheaply" manufacture tooling and replacement parts in extremely remote environments.

However, this project involves more than submarines and machinery. Olinje said that in addition to building the facility and providing inspection and verification capabilities for end users, the project will also create pathways for cultivating defense industry talent on Guam by collaborating with local universities, governments, and supply chains.

Currently, the GAMMA project is still in its early stages. The phased implementation plan is continuously being carried out. (Translated by Hu Wei)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534974831109751334/

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