New Technology Has Major Role in Manufacturing Weapons of Future
November 12, 2019 | U.S. DoDEstimated reading time: 1 minute
3D technology will play a major role in how weapons of the future are manufactured, the Defense Department's deputy director for strategic technology protection and exploitation, Kristen Baldwin said. She continued, "Weapon parts could be quickly prototyped using 'additive manufacturing' in which 3D parts are created from digital data models that are fabricated by the successive layering of materials. Additive manufacturing could play a role in the development of hypersonic weapons."
Speaking at the November 8, 2019 Defense One-sponsored panel on next-generation manufacturing, Baldwin noted that traditional manufacturing in which parts are forged by machining and turning is much slower.
But additive manufacturing would allow researchers and developers to test prototypes in an iterative fashion, so that an optimal design could be rapidly created, she said.
Baldwin said the U.S. is engaged in a global competition to develop these and other technologies—including artificial intelligence—and DOD's goal is to maintain its technological overmatch.
She said maintaining this overmatch is something a national imperative for all who can see the future and want to maintain economic and national security.
DOD's Additive Manufacturing Goals
Baldwin outlined four department priorities for additive manufacturing — security, human capital, capturing new technology and adopting new technology:
- DOD is working hard to ensure future technology is secure. That means protection of intellectual property and critical information, ensuring a secure supply chain and building cybersecurity into every system. In past years, that wasn't really done in a systematic fashion.
- The department needs to develop and grow the workforce that will use additive manufacturing and other advanced technologies. DOD personnel need to have the proper training and education to develop these technologies and use them in novel ways.
- DOD has to work with industry and academia to ensure it's up on the latest technology. That means public-private partnerships — not just with big defense industries, but also small businesses and startups. DOD's Manufacturing Technology Program is one way the department brings these partners together.
- Leadership needs to see the potential that new technologies can bring to the warfighters. Also, these technologies need to be adopted throughout DOD. A March 21 memorandum from the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment directs the use of additive manufacturing in support of materiel sustainment throughout the department at all the depots.
Suggested Items
TTM Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its First Manufacturing Facility in Penang
04/25/2024 | TTM Technologies, Inc.TTM Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of technology solutions including mission systems, radio frequency (RF) components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, and quick-turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs), officially opened its first manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia with an investment of USD200 million (approximately RM958 million).
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Fujitsu, METRON Collaborate to Drive ESG Success
04/24/2024 | JCN NewswireFujitsu Limited and METRON SAS, a French cleantech company specializing in energy management solutions for industrial decarbonization, today announced a strategic initiative to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in the manufacturing industry.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Final Finishes and IC Substrate Manufacturing
04/24/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOEditor Marcy LaRont and Richard DePoto, Uyemura's Business Development Manager, engage in a comprehensive discussion about the positive aspects of the show, the benefits of RAIG in final finishes, and the hurdles faced when upgrading your surface finish. Also discussed are the role of Uyemura's MEC pretreatment agents in IC substrate manufacturing and the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Women MAKE Awards Recognizes GlobalFoundries’ Jennifer Robbins and Katelyn Harrison for Manufacturing Excellence
04/24/2024 | GlobalFoundriesThe Manufacturing Institute (MI)—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—honored two outstanding women from GlobalFoundries (GF) at their annual Women MAKE Awards. Jennifer (Jenny) Robbins, Senior Director, Central Facilities, was recognized as a 2024 Women MAKE Awards Honoree, while Katelyn Harrison, Senior Integration Engineer, was honored as an Emerging Leader.