Aerospace and defense manufacturers are expanding plans to use AI-enabled sourcing tools, additive manufacturing and workforce training as they prepare for tighter program timelines in 2026, according to a survey commissioned by Xometry.

It commissioned John Zogby Strategies, which conducted the survey in December. The survey included 300 manufacturing leaders in the United States and Europe, with aerospace and defense companies comprising 51% of respondents. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.

AI usage among aerospace and defense manufacturers

41% of aerospace and defense respondents said they expect “significant acceleration” in 2026. That’s a higher rate than leaders in general industry. 85% said they are prioritizing AI-driven sourcing tools to improve pricing visibility and speed procurement decisions. That compares with 63% across general industry.

Nearly half, 47%, said they expect their workforce to be upskilled or reskilled as AI tools become more integrated into sourcing and production workflows.

The fastest-growing production method for 2026 was additive manufacturing. And respondents cited its use for prototyping, lightweighting and sustainment applications that require faster iteration and access to advanced materials.

Reshoring was also a central theme. 90% of aerospace and defense respondents said domestic sourcing capacity is essential to their success after 60% reported experiencing significant supplier delays over the past year. Respondents said they are seeking greater visibility into qualified domestic suppliers and diversifying their vendor base to reduce risk.

Compliance requirements remain a constraint. 47% cited regulatory and quality compliance as a primary supply chain vulnerability, pointing to standards such as AS9100, ITAR and CMMC. Respondents said documentation, inspection and traceability requirements can slow the movement of parts into production.

“The data is clear: as aerospace and defense programs scale, innovation and execution are increasingly intertwined,” said Randy Altschuler, co-founder and CEO of Xometry.

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