The US military is one of, if not the biggest, buyers and investors in additive manufacturing in the world. According to the latest report from Additive Manufacturing Research (formerly SmarTech Analysis), the US Department of Defense will spend $1.8 billion directly on additive manufacturing by 2032, up from $300 million in 2023.
For companies in the 3D printing industry, including machine and material makers, printing services, engineers, workforce educators, software makers, and others, the US military represents a huge growth opportunity.
“AM companies that don’t specifically emphasize the US market in their defense efforts are missing out on the biggest opportunity for scale, not only in the defense sector but probably AM’s biggest opportunity for scale, period,” says Matt Kremenetsky, the co-author of Additive Manufacturing Research’s latest report “Additive Manufacturing for Military and Defense.” (All3DP readers receive 10% off the report price using code: A3DP10)*
Released in November and containing the most recent data available on US military spending on AM, this 68-page research spells out the government’s strategy for advanced manufacturing and its position as a high strategic priority for national defense.
Although 3D printing in the military dates back to the 1980s, the past few years have seen a significant shift toward accelerating the adoption and application of AM for military readiness.
From shoring up domestic manufacturing to streamlining logistics to investing in innovation, this research report presents why the government is so keen to ramp up its AM spend including real-world case studies of successful AM implementation at the US Navy, Air Force (including Space Force), and Army.
The detailed recommendations for companies seeking to sell into the US DOD are probably the most useful part of the report for companies, large and small, hoping to get a piece of the spending pie. This chapter covers the complexity of the procurement framework, interviews with successful companies, and practical advice.
“This is a market where timing is everything, and if you don’t already have a strategy for defense, you’re already way behind,” says Kremenetsky.
The report authors’ analysis of available information presents a strong argument for why companies in the additive manufacturing industry would benefit from a new focus on military applications.
“AM companies should be seeking the DOD as a prime target customer,” the report states. “The DOD offers the highest scale in terms of funding opportunities, and since it is furthest along of any US federal agency in terms of AM progress, it offers the most immediate opportunity for ultimately scaling up aplcitaions from R&D to commercialization, meaning success in this realm has the most realistic near-term potential for breeding more success.”
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License: The text of "How to Sell 3D Printers & Printed Parts to the US Military" by All3DP Pro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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