Supernova Industries Corp has secured a contract to 3D print military-grade energetic materials as part of a pilot program aimed at strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base. The announcement was made concerning the state’s intent to innovate in military manufacturing.
Roger Antunez, the founder and CEO of Supernova Industries, stated, “Our technology has the potential to overcome the design constraints of conventional manufacturing methods to produce the next generation of military-grade energetic material components, including solid rocket motors (SRMs), explosives, and pyrotechnics.”
In 2024, Supernova Industries launched Supernova Defense & Space in Austin, Texas, specifically to focus on producing military-grade energetic materials through advanced 3D printing technologies. The company emphasizes that military-grade energetic materials are essential for the effective operation of defense systems; however, traditional manufacturing techniques often limit their capabilities.
Supernova’s cutting-edge Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) approach allows for significantly enhanced safety, material consistency, reduced waste, and new performance capabilities—particularly in applications related to solid rocket motors, bombs, and countermeasure flares. They have commenced printing simulant energetic materials and are progressing towards developing actual energetic formulas, which the company claims could result in a significant breakthrough in additive manufacturing.
The contract, amounting to $2 million, was issued through the American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation’s Critical Chemicals Pilot Program, which is part of the Pentagon’s Information Analysis Center focusing on manufacturing capability expansion and investment prioritization (MCEIP). Victor Boelscher, federal programs head at ACMI Federal, noted that the ability to produce these materials via 3D printing would be vital for generating components necessary for weapons systems, stressing national security importance.
Moreover, the Defense Department has prioritized meeting its explosive materials demands as it ramps up munitions production in light of support for Ukraine. For example, the U.S. Army aims to increase its production of 155mm munitions to 100,000 per month by the end of 2025, with critical attention on securing sufficient explosives like IMX-104 or TNT to meet this target. Doug Bush, the Army’s acquisition chief under former President Joe Biden, acknowledged the urgent need for domestic explosive production capacity to lessen reliance on overseas suppliers.
Additionally, the Army recently contracted REPKON USA-Defense LLC to construct a new explosive materials production facility in Graham, Kentucky, illustrating a broader commitment to rebuilding the domestic supply chain for military-grade materials.
