• Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi take a closer look at how Kratos leverages additive manufacturing to move faster, reduce costs, and support next-generation defense and space systems. • In today’s fast-moving defense industry, innovation never waits. • Governments and militaries across the globe increasingly rely on rapid prototyping, agile design, and affordable production methods to outpace adversaries and meet emergent threats. • One key enabler of these trends is additive manufacturing (often referred to as 3D printing): a suite of technologies that build complex parts layer by layer. • Additive manufacturing reduces lead times, enables lightweight and highly optimized geometries, and simplifies supply chains-all critical advantages when mission success and national security are on the line. • At the forefront of this movement is Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
Article Summaries:
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) is expanding its use of additive manufacturing (AM) to accelerate development and cut costs for defense and space systems. The San Diego‑based company, which reported over $300 million in quarterly revenue in 2025, applies AM across its unmanned aerial systems-including the XQ‑58 Valkyrie UAV-and its propulsion and hypersonic programs, such as the Zeus solid‑rocket motor. In December 2025, Kratos secured a letter of intent for 60 Zeus motors from L3Harris, underscoring confidence in its AM‑enhanced design and supply‑chain agility. Kratos Space, a unit of the firm, also leverages AM for satellite and space‑vehicle components, positioning the company at the forefront of rapid, cost‑effective aerospace production.
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