Kyle Maxey- Engineering.com
A recently presented paper outlines how 3D printing, robotic assembly lines and airborne drones will become the cornerstone of future military production.
Co-authored by Ben Fitzgerald and Dr. Aaron Martin, both experts in the field of strategic planning and security, the paper describes how additive manufacturing can shift today’s military procurement paradigm.
Currently, the US military is faced with a huge problem. New systems take decades to develop, face massive cost over-runs and often aren’t adaptable to changing strategic needs.
To solve this problem Fitzgerald proposes that the military adopt additive manufacturing as a way to accelerate the development and procurement process. As the paper’s authors see it, 3D printers offer the military three distinct advantages over traditional manufacturing: