Future Platform Materials Program

The objective of the Future Platform Materials (FPM) Program is to advance the Technical Readiness Level of advanced ferrous alloy systems identified as candidates for transition to future naval platforms. The primary role of this program is technical: to collaborate with entities within the government and in industry to plan, generate, and provide data necessary to evaluate ship impacts of new structural materials, provide data necessary to fulfill material certification requirements, and evaluate the trade space for materials in various applications both shipboard and for application to other stakeholder platforms.

In pursuit of these goals, the joint mission of the FPM program participants is to evaluate and characterize production scalability of next-generation structural steel systems, identify industrial production gaps for each alloy system that will need to be addressed to initiate certification activities and inform follow on prototyping efforts, and develop draft procurement specifications for applicable product forms including castings, forgings, plate, and welding consumables.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
June 2025

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a different kind of national lab. PNNL advances the frontiers of knowledge, taking on some of the world’s greatest science and technology challenges. Distinctive strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology, and data science are central to our scientific discovery mission. Our research lays a foundation for innovations that advance sustainable energy through decarbonization and energy storage and enhance national security through nuclear materials and threat analyses. PNNL collaborates with academia in fundamental research and with industry to transition technologies to market.

We are a national lab with Pacific Northwest roots and global reach. Whether our researchers are unlocking the mysteries of Earth’s climate, helping modernize the U.S. electric power grid, or safeguarding ports around the world from nuclear smuggling, we accept great challenges for one purpose: to create a world that is safer, cleaner, more prosperous, and more secure.