How is Additive Manufacturing Being Adopted in Defense?

When it comes to the military, flexibility and innovation are key in ensuring the success of operations in all corners of the globe. Indeed, when we think of military personnel one of the underlying characteristics of their actions is rapidity, as speed and ability to change on the go can be the difference between success and failure on the field. For that reason, the defense sector is constantly looking for ways to improve what it terms field readiness, including with additive manufacturing.

All that has culminated in a sector that is rapidly growing, with the global additive manufacturing in aerospace and defense market valued at around $2.76B in 2022 and expected to increase to around $17.9B by 2032. Thus, growing at a rate of a CAGR of about 20.48% according to Inkwood Research. But what is the current status of additive manufacturing in defense? How has it grown and what obstacles are still barring its way? We took a closer look.

Government Policies for 3D Printing in the Military

The United States

Government policies, at both a national and international level, are driving the use of 3D printing in the military sector. The clearest examples of this comes from one of the earliest and most fervent adopters of additive manufacturing in defense: the United States Department of Defense (DOD).