Industrial Base (IB) and Aging Weapon System Support Line of Effort (LOE)
Abstract
FY 2023 Accomplishments The Subsistence Network (SUBNET) program championed research, development, test and evaluation on multiple projects to enhance the efficiency, quality, and safety of the DOD subsistence supply chain. The SUBNET program collaborated with community partners (military services, federal agencies, industry, and academia) to leverage the latest technologies and innovations in successfully supporting and executing R&D projects in modernization and readiness analysis of a joint food management system; in-process logistics modeling for microbiological testing of MREs; improving subsistence visibility with barcode standards for Prime Vendors and Military Service stakeholders; investigation of sustainable packaging options for MREs; investigation and determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) sources throughout the MRE assembly line. The program also advanced Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics in Subsistence and saw promising results with separation, compositing, recycling, and repurposing system; deployable assembly kitting platform for Unitized Group Rations (UGR); robotic automations in dining facilities; technological and operational improvements in cold-weather combat rations heating and hydration modules. The DLA Casting (MAN-PA) R&D program continued research and development efforts focused on ensuring a viable and competitive metal casting industrial base providing affordable and high- quality parts for the Warfighter. Using partnerships to improve the material, manufacture, and procurement of defense parts. Educating the work force on industrial practices to better solicit and procure parts with cast content. These focus areas were supported through multiple projects aimed at improving DLA’s casting procurement agility and supply base to support warfighter readiness, enhancements to assist in reducing lead times and no-bid situations, development of software to utilize knowledge and technics to provide estimates based on design criteria, and identification of cast components from within the technical data package. Some of the projects that have successfully concluded and worked towards implementation included developing a virtual die casting simulation and other tools and resources for workforce development, modeling and simulations for pouring and solidification of castings, developing higher strength castings through the use of ceramic components and lattice structure, conformal cooling design for die casting dies and inserts, die casting of high temperature alloys, and developing coatings for dies and tooling to increase quality and reduce cost. The DLA Forging (MAN-PF) R&D program utilized projects focused on sustaining and improving the forging manufacturing industrial base to ensure the DoD continues to have viable sources for the procurement of quality parts with forged content. Improving the manufacturing process and materials to decrease material cost. Expanding and strengthen our collaboration with suppliers, working directing with these suppliers to maintain a viable and competitive forging supply chain. Specific focus was placed on workforce development and resources to ensure a viable future workforce, coatings for dies and materials which will reduce environmental impact from sprayed lubricants, increase product quality and reduce waste and lead time, and utilizing sensors and sensor technology to monitor the forging manufacturing process. The BATTNET program completed four major contracts funded by the FY 2019 Congressional Add, designed to transition viable solid-state electrolyte technologies into cells and batteries for MIL-32383 soldier system batteries. Several cell and battery types, with excellent safety characteristics for military performance requirements, were submitted to US Army DEVCOM C5ISR for evaluation. The program completed an advanced manufacturing technologies project for light weight (37%), bipolar lead-acid batteries, and advanced batteries for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle turret power, which were submitted to US Army DEVCOM GVSC for evaluation. The program finished improving the production capabilities for lithium anodes used on critical MIL-32271 batteries. The program completed first stage manufacturing capabilities for high performance bipolar designs in military aviation MIL-8565 lead-acid requirements. The program launched two projects for addressing manufacturing capabilities - one for emerging DoD-wide nickel-zinc batteries and one for critical ground MIL-32565 and soldier MIL-32383 standard batteries. The program continued to manage nine SBIR Phase 2 projects ($14.5 million) for military battery manufacturing objectives and prepared a new topic DLA 231-D06 on lithium-ion battery management system (BMS) cyber-security. The DLA-Additive Manufacturing (AM) program has continued its JAMA –Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability effort, and Military Partner Project Engagement. JAMA III is in its final stages of meeting its goals as well as requirements. The initial QPL- Quality Parts List and QML- Quality Manufacturers list has been developed for review and use as a tool within the enterprise by the Military Services. Preparation is underway for JAMA IV. JAMA IV will target the application of the efforts of JAMA I-III, to verify their ability to function as a resource for use. The requirements and specifications are being developed in collaboration with DLA, Deloitte, and OSD. Military Partner projects with US Army DEVCOM and C5ISR are another focus area that is being successfully executed with the development, testing, and production of the Waveguide and Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS). A phase 2 of the Waveguide endeavor is currently underway. The Advanced Microcircuit Emulation (AME) program continued to develop manufacturing technologies required to achieve its goals of providing a reliable and trusted, domestic means of mitigating obsolescence in legacy microcircuits. It transitioned a new capability for re-establishing sourcing for dual port memory microcircuits to full scale production. AME continued its development of additional manufacturing capabilities to support legacy 20-volt and 40-volt analog microcircuits, radiation hardened analog microcircuits. AME continued exploring supporting an emerging supply chain risk in microcircuit cases with using additive manufacturing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 7b7605379a670d47d8efc60bf1c6cac1