Additive manufacturing gives government and defense agencies faster, more flexible solutions to address mission-critical challenges, from strengthening military readiness to advancing space, energy, and health care innovation.
In practical terms, 3D printing provides advantages that traditional manufacturing can’t match, producing high-capability parts on demand that lower cost, accelerate production, and mitigate supply chain risk. The result – military and government organizations achieve their mission objectives with greater speed, efficiency, and confidence.
Together, these capabilities increase resilience, accelerate innovation, and improve operational effectiveness across defense and civilian government missions.
Additive manufacturing for the defense industry and other government organizations has moved beyond pilot projects into practical, everyday use. Agencies are applying it to shorten lead times, reduce supply chain risk, and improve operational efficiency in ways traditional methods cannot match.
As 3D printing in the defense industry expands, military organizations are using it to produce spare parts, tools, and lightweight components directly where they’re needed, whether in depots, in the field, or aboard ships and aircraft. Civilian agencies rely on the same technology to accelerate research, prototype complex designs, and support critical national infrastructure in energy, space, and health care. Because additive manufacturing is already delivering measurable value in these demanding environments, government and defense leaders can be confident in the technology’s capability to reliably strengthen readiness, and provide efficiency and innovation.
Explore the following articles to see how government and defense agencies benefit from additive manufacturing. They highlight the impact of 3D printing in military applications as well as civilian government agencies.
U.S. military and government sector 3D printing programs have an established track record of providing value across a wide range of applications, giving federal agencies faster, leaner ways to sustain and advance operations. The fundamental applications that provide significant benefits include:
In government and defense programs, additive manufacturing follows a rigorous framework of qualification and certification to ensure parts can be trusted in mission-critical use. These standards are particularly essential for military additive manufacturing, where validated processes, certified materials, and cybersecurity protections ensure every part meets stringent defense and aerospace requirements.
By combining certified processes, validated production, and advanced cybersecurity, Stratasys gives government and defense organizations confidence that every part meets the highest standards of quality and security.
Government and defense organizations require a range of additive solutions, from rugged field printers that support deployed forces to advanced systems used in research labs and production facilities.
Stratasys printers, spanning multiple 3D printing technologies and powered by a comprehensive software ecosystem, are built to meet these diverse needs, supporting everything from point-of-need part production to large-scale manufacturing programs.
The demands of government and defense applications often require materials that can withstand extreme environments while maintaining strength, reliability, and safety. Stratasys provides a broad portfolio of military-grade 3D printing materials proven in aerospace and defense, energy, and other government applications. Combined with advanced Stratasys 3D printers, this broad portfolio of capable materials gives government and defense organizations the ability to produce reliable, certifiable parts for applications ranging from military vehicles and aircraft to space systems, research, and health care.
