America Makes launches $25.6M AM project calls
America Makes, Youngstown, Ohio, USA, and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) have announced two new project calls worth a combined $25.6 million: Maturation Initiative for Additive Metals Interchangeability (MIAMI) and INtegrated System for In-situ Testing & Evaluation (INSITE).
Both projects are funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition and Sustainment, Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, with INSITE also receiving funding from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD ManTech).
MIAMI
The first project call, Maturation Initiative for Additive Metals Interchangeability (MIAMI), is worth $12.4 million.
This opportunity aims to validate that metal Additive Manufacturing materials can reliably replace traditional alloys in Department of Defense weapon system components. Project teams will select candidate parts, define performance requirements, and generate shared, validated data demonstrating that the AM material meets or exceeds the critical properties of the legacy alloys it is intended to substitute. The goal is to enable broad, cross-platform use of AM materials, reduce redundant testing, and accelerate qualification so AM solutions can be adopted quickly and confidently across the defence industrial base. Three awards are anticipated.
“Advancing material interchangeability through Additive Manufacturing is a strategic step toward strengthening the nation’s defence posture,” stated John Martin, Additive Manufacturing Research Director at America Makes. “This effort delivers the analytical rigour and validated data needed to accelerate trusted AM adoption, directly supporting the Department of War’s priorities for a more resilient and responsive industrial base.”
Proposed efforts are expected to deliver actionable insights that reduce technical and industrial risk, support practical pathways to transition, and provide shared value to both the DoD and the organic industrial base.
INSITE
The second project call, INtegrated System for In-situ Testing & Evaluation (INSITE) is worth $13.2 million. One award is anticipated.
The project’s objective is to establish an integrated Additive Manufacturing quality‑assurance system that unifies in‑situ monitoring and post‑build inspection to strengthen defect detection, advance DoD priorities for more reliable AM qualification, and deliver production‑ready capabilities that enhance efficiency, readiness, and competitiveness across the US supply base.
This combined in-situ and post-build non-destructive evaluation (NDE) approach aims to improve inspection of some of AM’s most challenging parts, including large components, dense materials, and complex geometries that are difficult to assess using traditional methods. By combining real-time monitoring during production with accelerated post-build inspection and expert oversight, the approach seeks to strengthen quality assurance, support certification, and expand manufacturing capabilities for critical components.
Rather than advancing individual sensing or NDE technologies in isolation, the programme is focused on developing and demonstrating an integrated quality assurance system that unifies in-situ monitoring and post-build inspection within a certifiable framework.
“As Additive Manufacturing scales to larger and more complex components, the ability to confidently verify part quality becomes mission critical,” stated Ben DiMarco, Technology Transition Director at America Makes. “This project brings together advanced analytics, in‑situ monitoring, and next‑generation NDE into a unified strategy that strengthens our industrial base and accelerates the deployment of reliable AM capabilities across defence applications.”
