Additive manufacturing

How 3D printing will transform the A&D support chain

3D printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), is quickly becoming a ‘must have’ for aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturers rather than just a luxury R&D project with the A&D sector now contributing 12 percent of 3D printing's $3.1 billion global revenue. A&D companies began experimenting with 3D printing as early as 1988, and industry leaders are now starting to recognize the unique capabilities of 3D printing, and searching for ways to exploit them. The U.S. Navy is currently working on 3D manufacturing at sea, which would revolutionize the military support chain, while in civil aviation, companies such as Boeing and Airbus have been using the process to manufacture components for over two years.

In the future, 3D printers will allow commercial aviation manufacturers to print parts for aircraft under construction, in addition to defense manufacturers and service providers producing replacement parts on demand for damaged equipment to support defense operations. Despite the increased uptake of 3D printing in A&D we have only glimpsed the tip of a large and growing iceberg.