Lockheed Martin , the US aerospace and defense company, is advancing laser powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing to enable faster operational readiness for next-generation aircraft, hypersonic systems, and electric propulsion platforms. The effort is tied to supply chain resilience and to shorter design-to-flight timelines for thermal management components used in aerospace and defense manufacturing. High-performance electronics and propulsion systems generate significant heat and require thermal management systems to maintain stability and regulate temperature levels. Thermal management components have traditionally relied on casting, forging, and brazing, followed by metal fabrication and machining to meet aerospace-grade tolerances and reliability requirements. Those processes create a supply chain choke point due to longer raw-material lead times, alloy shortages, surging aftermarket demand, and disruptions linked to geopolitical events.…