Chromatic 3D Materials is establishing an integrated rocket propellant test-firing capability at Camp Ripley, a 53,000-acre National Guard training facility near Little Falls, Minn.
The company entered into a five-year lease agreement effective June 1 to set up the facility, which will 'strengthen Chromatic's ability to rapidly develop, validate, and scale' next-generation propellant technologies in support of national defence efforts.
It will feature a 'dedicated propellant print lab' that is co-located with an on-site test firing infrastructure. Described as a 'closed-loop' development environment, Chromatic says it will enable a direct transition from fabrication to live-fire evaluation, and accelerate iteration cycles.
Chromatic has been connected with Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard through a collaboration with Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Minnesota (part of the Department of War's initiative to accelerate the adoption of dual-use technologies) and the Minnesota National Security Ecosystem. LEMA, a Minnesota-based expeditionary power company under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is also contributing to the effort, supporting the exploration of resilient power generation with Chromatic’s advanced manufacturing and propulsion testing.
“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. The collaboration between OnRamp Hub: Minnesota, Chromatic, LEMA, Camp Ripley, and the Minnesota National Guard is a strong example of what that can look like in practice.”
“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 is said to provide a secure, controlled testing environment aligned with Department of War standards. It will enable Chromatic to conduct propulsion demonstrations while maintaining close integration with Minnesota-based operations, and is expected to provide enhanced responsiveness to better support rapid prototyping and immediate validation of new formulations and grain geometries.
In parallel with Chromatic’s propulsion testing activities, Chromatic and LEMA are collaborating to demonstrate forward-deployed solar power generation capabilities at Camp Ripley. This effort explores how distributed, resilient energy systems can support expeditionary manufacturing and testing operations in austere environments. By integrating portable solar generation with on-site propellant production and testing, Chromatic and LEMA aim to showcase a model for an energy-independent, rapidly deployable defence infrastructure. This combined capability highlights the potential for operating advanced manufacturing and propulsion testing in forward or resource-constrained settings, reducing logistical burdens while increasing operational flexibility for U.S. forces.
This development represents 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 the readiness of its technology for deployment across defence applications, including tactical and strategic propulsion systems.
