3D-Printed Propellant Systems

Chromatic 3D Materials Opens Its Camp Ripley Test Site

Chromatic 3D Materials opened a test-firing site at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota, launching a five-year program to validate 3D-printed propellant technologies, featuring live-fire trials and on-site development. The rollout was arranged through the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Minnesota and pairs Chromatic with partners including LEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The company will test propulsion formulations and explore using its materials for auxiliary power, investigating solar-driven, off-grid propellant production and low-cost elastomeric manufacturing. Chromatic said its RX AM-derived processes and relatively low-cost machines aim to enable faster iteration and scalable material systems for solid rocket motors.

For military and industrial users this could shorten development cycles and increase production flexibility for tactical propulsion and power solutions. The on-base facility gives Chromatic a regulated environment to prove manufacturability and safety at scale, aligning with broader trends in distributed, rapid defense manufacturing.

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