{"id":11258,"date":"2022-05-16T13:52:22","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T13:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the3dsourced.wpengine.com\/?p=11258"},"modified":"2023-05-13T21:51:15","modified_gmt":"2023-05-13T21:51:15","slug":"military-3d-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/editors-picks\/military-3d-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways Militaries Use 3D Printing To Modernize"},"content":{"rendered":"

3D printed fighter jets, plastic assault rifles and combat drones all spring to mind when considering 3D printing in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And not without cause. With the rapidly advancing and naturally competitive industry of military-technology, these innovations are already showing signs of being on the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we\u2019re still a way off from anything out of science-fiction. Instead, and much like many large manufacturers, most international militaries are currently experimenting with 3D printing as a way to improve the cost and efficiency of manufacturing equipment and buildings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Concept
We’re not quite there yet.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean that the industry is lacking in exciting projects. Indeed, military operations naturally demand a high degree of reliability and effectiveness from their equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that militaries are generally more willing to invest time and money into 3D printing research than civilian sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, with that in mind, here are four ways that the military is using 3D printing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3D Printing and Military Logistics \u2013 The British Army<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A common issue for foreign military deployments is that of supply. Whenever a deployment is stationed abroad and cannot supply itself locally, then it must rely on logistics from home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially true for deployments in hostile environments, or combat operations, where sourcing supplies locally presents an additional risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is hardly a new issue, with foreign invasions from antiquity facing the same problem. Today, most modern militaries possess large and effective combat logistics networks to solve this very issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that is just half of the problem. The other issue with supplying an army from home, is that it has always been incredibly expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
A British combat logistics patrol in Afghanistan<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Although it\u2019s not promising to remove the issue, the British Army has been experimenting with 3D printing as a way to reduce this financial impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British Army in South Sudan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The British army is currently deployed alongside a UN peacekeeping operation in South Sudan.  Speaking about the situation in 2018, a spokesperson for the Royal Engineers explained that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cengineering in South Sudan has faced many problems. A stretched and fragile logistical supply route has resulted in difficulties resourcing components. However, we have resolved some of these issues through the use of a 3D printer. This is the first time this technology has been used by UK land forces deployed on operations. With a production time of often less than 12 hours, resources which would normally take weeks to be shipped or flown into country can now be printed on demand with significantly reduced costs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

During the deployment, a UN hospital was to be erected in the city of Bentiu: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIn order to complete construction we are using the 3D printer to manufacture essential small parts, the lack of which was previously hindering the progress of the build.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/PG-ur-k8ALg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although perhaps not the most exciting use of 3D printing on this list, this example does demonstrate the growing use of the technology within the armed forces, as well as how it is tangibly benefitting operations today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3D printed \u201cSubmarine\u201d \u2013 US Navy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moving onto what is perhaps a more visually striking project, let\u2019s talk about the US Navy\u2019s 3D printed submersible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, and Land) are the world-renowned special operations soldiers of the US Navy. To achieve the \u201csea\u201d component of their designation, they routinely utilize specialized submersible vehicles to deploy on operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, this is done with the SDV (SEAL delivery vehicle) submersible. These submersibles can covertly deploy soldiers to both land and sea targets. The current model, the Mark 8 SDV, has been in operational use since 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, like a lot of specialized military hardware, production of these SDVs is often takes a lot of time and money.  The US Department of Energy states that<\/a> \u201cthe cost of a traditional hull ranges from $600,000 to $800,000, and typically takes 3-5 months to manufacture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This price tag skyrockets when considering additional costs; technical and logistical support, engineering, and training for example. Indeed, when the UK was approved to purchase three vehicles in 2018, the official estimated program cost came to $90 million!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Navy
Navy SEALs operating an SDV<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

So, what happens to that number when you 3D print the SDVs instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3D Printed Seal Delivery Vehicle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2017 the Oak Ridge National Laboratory partnered with the US Navy to 3D print an SDV hull. Using large-format 3D printers<\/a>, they created a concept hull out of six carbon-fiber composite sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This concept became the first 3D printed submersible hull ever produced by a world military. But perhaps the most notable finding from this prototype was its efficiency. The hull took only weeks to print, rather than months, and was 90% cheaper to produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This efficiency also opens up more operational uses for the vehicles. Could 3D printed SDVs be tailor-made for each operation? Could they even be treated as disposable insertion vehicles? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n