US Marine Corps evaluates AIMMS mobile Additive Manufacturing capability
The US Marine Corps has begun field evaluations of the Advanced Integrated Mobile Machine Shop (AIMMS), a deployable manufacturing machine designed to enable the on-site production and repair of components in operational environments.
Developed with support from engineers at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s Advanced Manufacturing Branch, the machine has been delivered to the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. AIMMS combines conventional machining with metal Additive Manufacturing technologies to provide expeditionary manufacturing capabilities closer to the point of need.
The programme builds on previous expeditionary fabrication initiatives and supports broader Marine Corps efforts to improve operational readiness and self-sufficiency in distributed environments. By enabling localised production and repair, AIMMS is intended to accelerate maintenance activities while reducing dependence on traditional logistics networks.
Completed in February 2026, the programme also included training for Marine Corps machinists and fabricators in the operation of the Additive Manufacturing machine’s manufacturing equipment.
According to Ryan Fisher, a mechanical engineer in Carderock’s Advanced Manufacturing Branch, AIMMS enables Marines to produce metal parts in deployed environments that were previously unavailable through expeditionary manufacturing capabilities.
Designed for use in remote and forward-deployed locations, AIMMS integrates a range of manufacturing technologies, including computer numerical control (CNC) machining, welding, 3D scanning, and hybrid manufacturing processes that combine additive and subtractive methods. Personnel can use digital design files and onboard equipment to manufacture, modify, or reverse-engineer components as required.
Housed in transportable shelters, AIMMS can be moved and deployed using tactical vehicles. While not intended for operation while in transit, the machine provides a mobile alternative to fixed machine-shop facilities, bringing manufacturing capabilities closer to operational units.
In addition to Okinawa, a second AIMMS unit has been fielded at Camp Pendleton, California, as part of an ongoing user evaluation programme. Following training, Marines at both locations began producing parts and providing operational feedback to support further development of the capability.
The training programme, conducted over approximately one and a half weeks, covers metal Additive Manufacturing processes, 3D scanning, and CNC machining operations. Feedback from users is expected to inform future updates to both the machine and its associated training materials.
Carderock engineers will continue working with Marine Corps personnel throughout the evaluation period to refine the Additive Manufacturing machine and assess opportunities for wider deployment across the service.
