The 2nd Marine Logistics Group has developed the US Marine Corps’ first fully National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant 3D-printed drone, known as HANX.
Full NDAA compliance ensures the platform is free from potential electronic backdoors, allowing safe deployment across all Marine units. HANX was designed and manufactured at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Innovation Campus, which focuses on enabling in-house production of modular, low-cost drones without reliance on external contractors.
After more than 1,000 hours of design, assembly, and testing using NDAA-approved components, the drone received flight clearance from the Small Unmanned Aerial Systems program office at Naval Air Systems Command. Following approval, the Innovation Campus established a framework that allows any Marine unit to manufacture, maintain, and deploy 3D-printed modular drones internally.
The system’s modular architecture enables rapid reconfiguration for missions ranging from reconnaissance and logistics to one-way attack roles, offering a flexible and cost-effective operational solution. According to Volpe, HANX’s low cost and ease of modification make it far more adaptable than contractor-supplied drones, which cannot be altered once procured.
The initiative supports the US “drone dominance” strategy aimed at expanding low-cost loitering munition capabilities while simplifying acquisition pathways. Last month, Washington launched a $1-billion Pentagon program to accelerate domestic drone production, targeting around 300,000 systems over the next two years. The effort seeks to build a sustainable US manufacturing base for unmanned systems while reducing dependence on foreign technologies and supply chains.
