Supernova Awarded Contract to 3D Print Military-Grade Energetic Materials for DoD

American firm Supernova has been selected to receive a $2 million subcontracting contract awarded by the American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI). The goal of this agreement is to enable Supernova to advance 3D printing of military-grade energetic materials for the defense sector. This contract is part of ACMI’s Critical Chemicals pilot program, which is conducted under a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) initiative. It is intended to expand the military industry’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and prioritize investment in new technologies.

This program is aimed at strengthening the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base by adapting commercial solutions for use in military applications. Supernova CEO Roger Antunez expressed his pride in contributing to this effort, noting that the company’s technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods. “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,” Antunez explained. These energetic materials are key to the operation of defense systems, and Supernova hopes to advance them with its 3D printing technology.

Supernova’s manufacturing solutions.

Supernova 3D Prints Energetic Materials

Supernova’s patented technology, called Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM), is an additive manufacturing process based on the principle of lithography. This method allows high-viscosity materials to be transferred onto a build platform, where they are cured with light to create 3D parts. What distinguishes the VLM process from conventional methods is its ability to work with materials of unlimited viscosity. This opens the door to new formulations, such as those used in the energy field, where very high solid loads are required. Supernova has already been successful in 3D printing simulated energetic materials and is now developing the fabrication of real energetic formulations.