3-D printing has taken its next logical step as a defense contractor has engineered a way to use the manufacturing process in the creation of guided missiles.
Raytheon, one of the U.S.’s largest defense contractors, has built a missile almost entirely from 3-D printing technology.
“The day is coming when missiles can be printed,” Raytheon said in a press release. “Researchers at Raytheon Missile Systems say they have already created nearly every component of a guided weapon using additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3-D printing. The components include rocket engines, fins, parts for the guidance and control systems, and more.”
“You could potentially have these in the field,” Raytheon engineer who has printed working rocket motors Jeremy Danforth said in the release. “Machines making machines. The user could [print on demand]. That’s the vision.”
