Expanding the domain of defence innovation-the use of 3D printers is here

Technology which has been associated with the creation of small plastics is now being acknowledged for what its potential really is.

Earlier, a team of researchers from Purdue University, Indiana conducted a research from making airbags to explosives involving 3D printed energetic materials, containing high amounts of chemicals.  The experiment was described as the one designed to improve precision and safety of energetic materials.

Recently, Australia’s Defence Science and Technology in collaboration with Defend Tex Pty Ltd., The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Flinders University and, Cranfield University is looking forward to make 3D printing as a method to make energetic materials safer and more efficient.

The Minister of Australian Defence Industry, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP suggested that the 3D printing materials such as explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics could not only improve their performance but also offers a substantial cost benefit in their manufacture.

Hence, the Australian Department of defence is upgrading its technical capabilities and declaring a major boost for the Defence Innovation Hub funding a whopping AUD$5.3 million to go towards five new innovation contracts, including a AUD$2.3 million contract for a new project that could use laser technology to detect low intensity signals, as recently announced by the Minister of the defence industry.

The aim of the investment is to create weapons of the future and provide the troops with the latest innovative defence technologies keeping them resilient to threats.

“This research could lead to the production of advanced weapons systems, which can be tailored for unique performance and purpose,” said Pyne.

 Recently, AUD$2.6 million has been pledged to the partnership over the next two years.