3D Printing in Aerospace and Defense

Interested in 3D printing in the aerospace and defense sectors? Find all the latest news in this field on this dedicated page including application cases, interviews, infographics, product news, videos and more. Don’t forget either to sign up for our newsletter to receive a monthly digest of the latest news from these industries!

The first 3D Printed Cryogenic Tank for Storing Liquid Hydrogen

May 8, 2025

The AIMEN technology center recently completed the manufacture of a 3D printed cryogenic tank for storing liquid hydrogen, a world first. This innovation marks a key milestone for the aeronautical industry, which is faced with an ever-more urgent need to…

Hold the Stars in Your Hands With NASA’s 3D Models

May 2, 2025

Aerospace is an industry that relies heavily on 3D technologies, whether to speed up prototyping, research or create end-use parts. Indeed, tools like 3D scanning and 3D printing are of paramount importance to many engineers and key players in the…

DEFEND3D Talks Increasing the Security of Additive Manufacturing in the Defense Sector

May 1, 2025

One of the sectors where where we have seen rapid growth of additive manufacturing is defense. From defined additive manufacturing strategies in both the UK and the US as well as a number of applications from trainings to active warfare,…

ICON’s 3D Printed Simulated Mars Surface Habitat Will Help Pave the Way for Space Exploration

August 9, 2021

NASA is once again using 3D printing in its work to bring humanity closer to space exploration. Not long after after announcing that Redwire Regolith Study, which will test whether 3D printing of regolith (loose soil) can be used to…

Redwire to Explore the Feasibility of 3D Printing With Lunar Dust on the ISS

August 3, 2021

On August 10th, Northrop Grumman plans to launch its 16th commerical resupply service mission. As the name suggests, the Cygnus spacecraft will be carrying crew supplies, scientific research, and hardware to the orbiting laboratory. As part of this mission, supplies…

Relativity Space to Open New 1M Square Foot Factory in California

July 1, 2021

A few weeks ago, Relativity Space announced that it had raised $640M to scale production of its entirely 3D printed rocket, Terran R. Now, we know how they intend to use at least part of those funds. Yesterday, the company…

United States Marines Use AM for New Vehicle Maintenance Tool

June 23, 2021

Once again the American military is turning to additive manufacturing (AM) for innovative applications to help them in the field. This time, Marine Corps System Command’s (MCSC) Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell (AMOC) has helped to develop a 3D printed metal…

Zebro Robots to Use 3D Printing to Help Colonize Mars

June 21, 2021

What may still sound like science fiction to some is actually becoming more and more likely in reality: the colonization of another planet. Various projects are actively working on the implementation of ideas that are supposed to bring about the…

NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne Partner to Test AM Hardware

May 18, 2021

NASA has announced that its Robotic Deposition Technology (RDT) team is partnering with Aerojet Rocketdyne, an American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer headquartered in Sacramento, to advance its 3D printing, and more specifically metal additive manufacturing, technologies. NASA also hopes…

Rocket Lab Set to be Valued $4.1 billion Following Merger

March 3, 2021

Rocket Lab USA has just announced that it will become publicly traded in after entering into a definitive merger agreement with Vector Acquisition Corporation. The well-established end-to-end space company is a global leader in the launch, space systems and space…

3D printing goes to space on Airbus’ Eurostar Neo satellites

February 23, 2021

3D printing is going back into space! Airbus has used Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) technology (otherwise known as 3D printing or additive manufacturing) for the creation of radio frequency (RF) components for two Eurostar Neo satellites which are planned to…

3D Printed Thrusters to be used for NASA’s First Voyage to the Moon’s South Pole

February 19, 2021

Agile Space Industries, a company known for its additively manufactured propulsion technologies, has been selected by Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One (GM1) team to develop 3D printed thrusters and axial engines for the Griffin lunar lander. The Griffin lunar lander will…

Autonomous In-Space Manufacturing Moves Closer to Reality

January 7, 2021

Based in Massachusetts, COSM Advanced Manufacturing Systems announced that it will begin working on the final development of electron beam metal 3D printing systems for a variety of future in-space, lunar and Martian applications. The work is funded by a…

Relativity Space raises $500M and is one step closer to launching Terran 1 to orbit

November 25, 2020

Relativity Space, the first company to 3D print an entire rocket, has announced that it closed a $500 million Series D equity funding round led by Tiger Global Management. The funding validates Relativity’s sector-leading momentum across commercial execution, technical milestones,…

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