Manufacturing Technology Program

The Manufacturing Enterprise/Other activity includes: (1) efforts targeted towards improving, in general, the manufacturing enterprise for the production of key naval platforms (both shipbuilding and aircraft); (2) energetics efforts; (3) naval research enterprise and laboratory support for key projects; and (4) technical program support. Manufacturing Enterprise addresses the development, optimization, and transition of manufacturing enterprise technology to key naval platform suppliers. Emphasis is on affordability for the following shipbuilding platforms: VIRGINIA Class submarine (VCS)/COLUMBIA Class submarine (CLB), DDG 51 Class destroyer, CVN 78 Class carrier, FFG 62 Class frigate, PEO IWS (in support of NAVSEA acquisition programs), and F-35 Lightening II aircraft. In addition to addressing affordability for key naval platforms, ManTech also addresses manufacturing technology to aid in capability acceleration to the fleet. Manufacturing enterprise technology areas include, but are not limited to design for easier production/design for manufacturability; development of build/assembly strategies; modeling and simulation technologies; model-based tools and approaches to optimize ease of production; intelligent manufacturing planning and factory execution; elimination of inefficiencies in design optimization, material usage, labor utilization, work flow, etc.; supply chain procedures and improvements (such as network centric manufacturing capabilities to facilitate resilient and adaptable supply chains); development of more efficient structural fabrication product lines; streamlining of outfitting operations; prediction and reduction of welding distortion; advanced automation and robotics for manufacturing; advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for production environments; and inspection technologies such as digital radiography and ultrasonic technologies. Energetics efforts concentrate on developing energetics solutions to ensure the availability of safe, affordable, and quality energetics products largely in support of Program Executive Office (PEO) Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS).

The primary technical goal of the Metals Processing and Fabrication activity is to develop affordable, robust manufacturing and repair processes/capabilities for metals and special materials critical to Navy weapon system applications. Emphasis is on affordability for the following platforms: VIRGINIA Class submarine (VCS)/COLUMBIA Class submarine (CLB), DDG 51 Class destroyer, CVN 78 Class carrier, FFG 62 Class frigate, PEO IWS (in support of NAVSEA acquisition programs), and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. In addition to addressing affordability for key naval platforms, ManTech also addresses manufacturing technology to aid in capability acceleration to the fleet. This activity also includes the development, optimization, and transition of repair technology for the repair, overhaul, and sustainment of key navy systems. Metals processing and fabrication technology areas include but are not limited to: processing methods; metals additive manufacturing; metallic materials-based systems; casting; joining techniques; machining; surface and heat treatments; coating/cladding; assembly; metal/non-metals interfaces issues; and inspection and compliance verification.

The primary technical goal of the Electronics Processing and Fabrication activity is improving electronic weapon systems affordability by developing and transitioning affordable, robust manufacturing processes and capabilities for electronics critical to defense applications over their full life-cycle. Efforts create new and improved electronics/electro-optics manufacturing processes for transition to the production floor. Emphasis is on affordability for the following platforms: VIRGINIA Class submarine (VCS)/COLUMBIA Class submarine (CLB), DDG 51 Class destroyer, CVN 78 Class carrier, FFG 62 Class frigate, PEO IWS (in support of NAVSEA acquisition programs), and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. In addition to addressing affordability for key naval platforms, ManTech also addresses manufacturing technology to aid in capability acceleration to the fleet. Electronics processing and fabrication technology areas include but are not limited to Electronics manufacturing technology (materials, devices, circuits, modules, subsystems); semiconductor devices/vacuum electronics/passive components; compound semiconductors/wide bandgap semiconductors; low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing and assembly techniques; nanoelectronics; electronics packaging technologies (including tamper proof and non-hermetic approaches); optics manufacturing technology (materials devices, circuits, modules, subsystems); optical interconnects; fiber optics and photonics; technologies for electronics and electro-optics testing and evaluation; optical imaging for manufacturing operations; and High Energy Laser (HEL)/directed energy weapons.

The primary technical goal of the Composites Processing and Fabrication activity is improving weapon systems affordability, enhancing weapon system effectiveness and improving reliability/warfighter readiness through the increased utilization of composite materials and structures. This is being achieved through the development, maturation, and transition of affordable and robust manufacturing, assembly, and repair processes that fully exploit the benefits of composite materials. Concentration is on affordability for the following platforms: VIRGINIA Class submarine (VCS)/COLUMBIA Class submarine (CLB), DDG 51 Class destroyer, CVN 78 Class carrier, FFG 62 Class frigate, PEO IWS (in support of NAVSEA acquisition platforms), and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. In addition to addressing affordability for key naval platforms, ManTech also addresses manufacturing technology to aid in capability acceleration to the fleet. Composites processing and fabrication technology areas include but are not limited to fiber-reinforced polymeric (organic) resin composites; ceramic-matrix, metal-matrix, and carbon-carbon composites; composite internal stiffening core materials such as foam, ceramic, balsa wood, polymeric or metallic honeycomb, or other materials; composite external stiffening concepts such as hat and blade stiffeners and methodologies to manufacture them; materials for radomes and other electrical applications; composite manufacturing and similar processes and related equipment technology; and adhesives, adhesive bonding, and related technologies (i.e., surface preparation techniques), as well as mechanical fastening, and other methodologies for joining composites to other composites or metals, and similar assembly technologies.