Chromatic 3D Materials announced the establishment of an integrated rocket propellant test-firing capability at Camp Ripley, a 53,000-acre National Guard training facility near Little Falls, Minn. Effective June 1, the company entered into a five-year lease agreement to set up a long-term testing presence, strengthening its ability to rapidly develop, validate, and scale next-generation propellant technologies for national defense priorities.
The opportunity was made possible through collaboration with Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Minnesota and the Minnesota National Security Ecosystem, which connected Chromatic with Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard. OnRamp Hub: Minnesota is part of the Department of War's initiative to accelerate adoption of dual-use technologies. "Commercial companies often have promising technologies but need access to the right partners, facilities, and testing environments to demonstrate their capabilities and move forward," said Matt Hickey, managing director of OnRamp Hub: Minnesota. "Our role is to help make those connections, reduce barriers to testing and evaluation, and create pathways that accelerate getting commercial technologies into the hands of the warfighter."
By co-locating a dedicated propellant print lab with on-site test firing infrastructure, Chromatic has created a closed-loop development environment that enables direct transition from fabrication to live-fire evaluation. This significantly accelerates iteration cycles, allowing rapid refinement of propellant performance under operationally relevant conditions. "Development and manufacturing speed are critical in modern defense," said Cora Leibig, CEO of Chromatic 3D Materials. "Our presence at Camp Ripley allows us to rapidly demonstrate performance, validate manufacturing approaches and reduce the time required to deliver advanced propulsion solutions to rocket manufacturers."
Camp Ripley provides a secure, controlled testing environment aligned with Department of War standards. The on-site print lab supports rapid prototyping and immediate validation of new formulations and grain geometries. In parallel, Chromatic is collaborating with LEMA, a Minnesota-based expeditionary power company under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to demonstrate forward-deployed solar power generation at Camp Ripley. This effort explores how distributed, resilient energy systems can support expeditionary manufacturing and testing in austere environments, showcasing a model for energy-independent, rapidly deployable defense infrastructure.
This development marks a key milestone in Chromatic's path toward full-scale rocket propellant manufacturing. By proving repeatability and performance through accelerated test cycles, Chromatic is advancing readiness for deployment across defense applications, including tactical and strategic propulsion systems. The investment reinforces its commitment to strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base through innovative, scalable manufacturing solutions that enhance speed, flexibility, and mission readiness. For more information, visit c3dmaterials.com.
