Velo3D, a leader in metal additive manufacturing for aerospace and defense, is expanding its partnership with Innovative Rocket Technologies. This next-gen aerospace firm focuses on creating fully reusable launch vehicles. The collaboration leverages additive manufacturing to enable iRocket to iterate designs rapidly with each recoverable launch and scale production of propulsion and structural components for space and defense applications.
As part of the partnership, iRocket has acquired Velo3D’s Sapphire® printers and adopted Velo3D’s Rapid Production Solutions (RPS). This integration enables faster, repeatable manufacturing, supporting iRocket’s goal to Recondition, Reload, and Relaunch™ vehicles in under 24 hours, similar to the operational model of commercial aircraft. The partnership boosts U.S. supply chains. It supports making solid rocket motors for the growing interceptor market. This also helps reindustrialize vital defense infrastructure.
“Working with iRocket exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships in building resilient, U.S.-based manufacturing,” said Dr. Arun Jeldi, CEO, Velo3D. “By integrating their Sapphire printers into our Rapid Production Solutions, iRocket can seamlessly transition from prototype to production, achieving the consistency and scalability required for flight-critical and defense hardware.”
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Founded in 2018, iRocket is working on the Shockwave. This is a reusable launch vehicle designed for quick turnarounds and frequent missions. The company collaborates with the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory. They investigate propulsion and defense applications. In July 2025, iRocket announced plans to go public. They will merge with BPGC Acquisition Corp. in a $400 million SPAC deal. This move highlights their growing market presence and strong financial momentum.
“Velo3D’s additive manufacturing technology gives us the freedom to design and produce propulsion system components and 3D print complex geometries that couldn’t be built by traditional methods,” said Asad Malik, CEO, iRocket. “By expanding our collaboration, we gain the speed, flexibility, and control needed to achieve our mission of delivering reusable, high-frequency launch capabilities for both commercial space and national defense customers.”
Velo3D’s Sapphire printer family enables production of large, complex geometries with minimal support structures, making it ideal for propulsion, turbomachinery, and thermal management systems. Its integrated software and hardware platform—including Flow™ print software, Assure™ quality control, and Intelligent Fusion process control—ensures consistent, traceable, aerospace-grade part production across multiple machines and facilities.