Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Additive Manufacturing Powers the Future of Defense and Space

Summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is accelerating its defense and space programs by investing heavily in additive manufacturing, highlighted by the acquisition of a Velo3D Sapphire metal 3D printer and the launch of a CAMM materials‑characterization program. The company uses AM to speed prototype cycles, cut supply‑chain reliance, and produce complex, high‑stress metal parts for unmanned aerial systems, hypersonic rocket motors and other aerospace hardware. A 40,000‑square‑foot expansion of its Birmingham, Alabama campus in early 2026 underscores the role of AM in scaling production of systems such as the HORUS ISR platform and the CRADLE radar. Kratos reported quarterly revenues above $300 million in 2025, with its space‑ground solutions now supporting over 90% of U.S. missions and 75% of commercial operators worldwide.