Task Force-99 Unveils 3D Printed Drone for Battlefield Aid

In the rugged, harsh terrains of combat zones, traditional means of delivering aid often fall short, posing a significant risk of severe injury and death. Amidst this challenge, U.S. Air Forces Central engineers believe they have found a lifesaving solution within additive manufacturing technology.

Task Force-99, alongside the Air Force’s Blue Horizon program and California’s Titan Dynamics, has unveiled a revolutionary unmanned aerial system (UAS) that promises to redefine the speed and efficiency of drone deployment. By leveraging advanced software capable of conceptualizing and 3D printing airframes within hours rather than days, they aim to revolutionize drone manufacturing and distribution for allied forces worldwide, and reduce the risk associated with aerial support on the battlefield.

Col. Dustin Thomas, a Fellow with Blue Horizons and a key member of Project Black Phoenix, explained the project’s objectives, stating, “The goal of our project was to be able to quickly design a fixed wing small UAS within minutes, build it within hours, be able to employ it in the same day, and do that in the field right at the point of need.”