Maui Startup Tests 3D-Printed Basalt-Fiber Drones at RIMPAC 2026
Maui-based startup Voltage Vessels field-tested 3D-printed fixed-wing drones and a small surface-water drone built from an innovative volcanic-rock-reinforced composite called Eclipse X9 during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise in Hawaiian waters, according to reporting by Stars and Stripes and FilamentFeed. The ongoing biennial naval exercise, which runs from June 24 through July 2026 and involves 30 nations, provides a major proving ground for defense innovation and advanced additive manufacturing materials.
Pushing Volcanic Rock Into Military Proving Grounds
The biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise draws international naval forces together for large-scale tactical training. Alongside traditional fleet maneuvers, RIMPAC 2026 hosts more than two dozen separate unmanned-systems experiments running in parallel across the theater, according to reporting by Stars and Stripes reporter Wyatt Olson. Voltage Vessels integrated its hardware directly into this experimental ecosystem.
At the center of the startup’s deployment is Eclipse X9. Developed by the Maui firm, the material combines recycled PETG thermoplastic polyester with chopped basalt fiber. Volcanic basalt rock is melted at approximately 1,500°F and drawn into continuous filament without chemical additives. The resulting composite yields structural components that are deployed directly into airframes and a compact water-surface drone.
The timing of the field test aligns with broader institutional changes within the U.S. defense apparatus. The Pentagon established a dedicated “drone czar” position in late June 2026 to streamline the acquisition and deployment of autonomous systems. That procurement push places added emphasis on how uncrewed vehicles are manufactured, supplied, and repaired in contested logistics environments.
Material Advantages and Supply Chain Realities
Additive manufacturing in defense applications often relies on carbon fiber or fiberglass reinforcements. Voltage Vessels positions Eclipse X9 as an alternative that addresses specific operational drawbacks found in traditional composites. According to published company specifications, the basalt-PETG material is stronger than carbon fiber or fiberglass composites, UV-resistant, and recyclable at the end of its lifecycle.
Crucially for naval and tactical deployments, the basalt composite is electrically non-conductive and non-magnetic. Carbon-fiber composites frequently present interference issues around radio-frequency electronics and onboard antennas, a vulnerability that non-conductive basalt-fiber alternatives avoid.
Despite the high-tech application in Hawaiian waters, the raw material supply chain remains international. Founder and CEO Sam Young noted that raw basalt fiber cannot currently be produced domestically in the United States, requiring imports from China, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. Voltage Vessels is working to establish domestic production facilities, but current filament and pellet manufacturing relies on overseas raw material streams.
Commercial Ambitions Beyond the Flight Line
While the RIMPAC deployment highlights military utility, Voltage Vessels views defense trials as a stress test for broader commercial scalability. Young outlined ambitions that extend far beyond unmanned aircraft, pointing toward standard industrial applications, marine construction, and logistics infrastructure.
The company aims to supply drop-in structural materials that manufacturers can utilize for everything from shipping totes to marina infrastructure. By proving the airworthiness and seaworthiness of Eclipse X9 in active naval exercises, the firm seeks to validate additive manufacturing techniques for larger marine architecture, including printing boats for the first time.