Additive Manufacturing in Contested Environments

The availability of replacement parts for equipment remains a critical challenge for operations in contested defense settings. Traditional supply chains and logistics are unreliable and leave warfighters in adverse, if not dangerous, situations.

To maintain mission readiness and reduce the risks of global supply chains, logistics, and raw materials shortages, other means of procurement must be established. Additive manufacturing (AM) is a viable solution that is currently being evaluated for expanded capacity support. However, in the right configuration, AM is also the solution for point-of-need production in contested environments.