Published Aug 14, 2026, 3:00 AM EDT
Marines 3D Print a 7-Meter Raiding Craft in Okinawa, Then Put It to Sea
Marines built and tested a working 7-meter foam raiding craft in Okinawa, proving they can manufacture expeditionary platforms at the point of need.
Marines in Okinawa can now manufacture a working raiding craft in theater instead of waiting for one to ship across the Pacific. That capability moved from concept to the water on June 29 when Intermediate Repair Company, 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group (MLG) put a 7-meter foam hull into the water at White Beach Naval Facility and ran both manned and unmanned operations. The craft was the most visible result of Resilient Advanced Manufacturing For Contested Environments (RAMFORCE), an initiative hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. According to a 3rd MLG news release, the event ran from June 1 through July 1 during Exercise Valiant Shield 26 and brought Marines together with engineers, scientists, and industry partners to test ways expeditionary forces can repair, replace, and produce equipment without waiting on traditional supply chains.
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi, second from right, commanding general of Western Army, and U.S. Marine Corps LtGen Roger Turner, third from right, Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force, and others ride on a Foam Raiding Craft during Valiant Shield 26 at White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Rachel Mason)
