As operational demands intensified and traditional supply lines were stretched, Phillips Corporation Federal Division deployed the mobile manufacturing system. Designed specifically for the tactical edge, the Drone Farm proved that advanced additive manufacturing can deliver mission-critical capabilities precisely when and where they are needed, transforming how the U.S. military produces, sustains, and innovates in austere environments.
Housed in an air-mobile ISU-90 container, the system integrated six Markforged X7 printers—the same platform already fielded through the Marine Corps X-FAB program. With minimal setup, Marines opened the container doors and powered the printers. What traditionally required hours of complex preparation was reduced to minutes, instantly creating a complete production cell with integrated inventory management and assembly workstations.
Operating in parallel, the six printers produced components for a custom NDAA-compliant Group 1 First Person View (FPV) drone using BlueUAS-compatible parts. During the exercise, the Drone Farm manufactured three fully operational FPV drones using Markforged Onyx material, selected for its superior strength-to-weight ratio and suitability for both training and combat use.
From digital design to first flight, the full production cycle from design, printing, assembly, and testing was completed in a matter of hours of print time and just one hour of hands-on assembly in the field. This rapid capability directly addresses the demands of modern conflict, where FPV drones have become essential tools for engaging personnel, armored vehicles, and maritime targets.
“We are just getting started at providing optionality through customized containerization that is configured precisely to drone production capability at the point of need” says Patrick Tucker, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Strategic Business Development Manager at Phillips Federal.
“We’re designing capability tailored to the remotest location like an Expeditionary Advanced Based Operation and are enabling capability further forward than originally thought possible. Additionally, we’re enabling more robust capability at a more mature forward operating base and containerizing and configuring it to the power infrastructure and more permissive operating environment that a forward operating base offers. This is a scalable approach that interlocks capacity in tune with combat power apportionment across an area of operations.”