# Metals Processing and Fabrication

**R-2A activity** of project 1050 — Manufacturing Tech  
**Program element:** 0603680N — Manufacturing Technology Program  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603680N/1050/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603680N/1050

## Summary

This activity requests $11.5M in FY2027, 15% of project 1050, down 3.2% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** - Complete metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as robotic and automation, inspection technologies, metal forming, process flow optimization, fabrication mobility/agility, surface preparation, and machine learning. - Continue to develop and transition metals processing and fabrication manufacturing technology improvements that result in expanded through-put, affordability, and enhanced capability for key platforms: VCS/CLB, DDG 51, CVN 78, and F-35. - Initiate metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as robotics and automation, shipboard drilling, and advanced welding techniques. - Continue metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as robotics and automation, and inspection technologies.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** There is no significant funding change between FY2026 and FY2027.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Complete metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as inspection technologies, robotics and automation, advanced welding technologies, and joining processes. - Complete Repair Technology (RepTech) thrust to develop, optimize, and transition repair technologies for key naval platforms at depots and logistics centers. At the project level, initiate approximately 3 projects in sustainment technology once FY26 planning is complete. - Continue to develop and transition metals processing and fabrication manufacturing technology improvements that result in expanded through-put, affordability, and enhanced capability for key platforms: VCS/CLB, DDG 51, CVN 78, F-35, and FFG 62. - Continue metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as surface preparation, shipboard structural design, machine learning, fabrication mobility/agility, process flow optimization, and metal forming. - Initiate metals processing and fabrication projects in support of key platforms in areas such as robotics and automation, advanced metallic materials, remote welding, and advanced welding techniques.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 11.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 11.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 11.5 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project 1050

- [Manufacturing Enterprise/Other](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603680N/1050/a3) — FY2027 35.2
- [Composites Processing and Fabrication](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603680N/1050/a0) — FY2027 16.2
- [Electronics Processing and Fabrication](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603680N/1050/a1) — FY2027 16.2

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603680N project 1050 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*