TheUK Ministry of Defence(MoD) is seeking to establish a network of suppliers capable of 3D printing military-grade spare parts on-demand.
As part of ‘Project TAMPA,’ the MoD aims to create a multi-supplier framework with the capacity to 3D print lighter, stronger metal parts as and when they’re needed. If this can be achieved, the UK government department anticipates being able to drive down military equipment and weaponry lead times, while improving the availability of difficult-to-source obsolete components.
“Additive manufacturing has the potential to address significant issues within defense such as excessive lead times for defense inventory and the manufacture of obsolete/obsolescent parts,” reads theMoD Project TAMPA contract notice。The authority [the MoD], wishes to enter into a multi-supplier framework arrangement for accelerating the maturity of additive manufacturing… and intends to seek bids for limited innovation funding.”
Meeting UK defense needs with AM
如最近的确定World Population Review study, the UK is the fifth-highest spending military power in the world, behind Russia, India, China and the US. Of course, the vast majority of this net $59.2 billion spend is spent on projects unrelated to 3D printing, but the country’s military bodies have previously sought to deploy the technology in a number of trial projects.
Back in 2019, theMoD outlined plans to use 3D printingAI加强英国的国家安全。当时，该部将3D可打印传感器和3D生物打印确定为利用“有关人类和平台性能的新类型的数据”。从那以后，Mod赞助Defence Science and Technology Laboratoryhas begun3D printing explosives with novel designs，旨在削减其存储和运输成本。
Some of the UK’s more recent military additive manufacturing exercises include the development ofRAF-3D printed drone swarms。今年早些时候,宣布scrapped its ‘Mosquito’ drone program, the RAF had switched its focus to creating a fleet of UAVs that can be more rapidly produced and deployed.
Flexing-up the MoD supply chain
项目坦帕,或给它的全名,Metal Additive Manufacturing as a Service Challenge,’ has been set up with two broad goals in mind. According to an MoD contract notice, the ministry sees the program as a chance to “accelerate the maturity of additive manufacturing,” and better utilize it to develop a “more agile response to demand for parts.”
尽管Mod尚未透露要生产的备件的性质，但它列出了一套里程碑以及该计划的截止日期。坦帕项目的预算最高为500万英镑，将在未来两到七年内看到供应商与3D打印各种库存的供应商合同，并在英国的国防网络中提供了产生的模型。
实际上，该程序定于围绕增强制造复杂性的四个“螺旋”结构。其中的第一个将看到参与者3D打印非安全关键北约股票数（NSN）金属零件，然后稳步发展为在工业场所，最终从偏远地区制造的聚合物和基于合金的备件的生产。
As you’d expect with a UK military project, there are some provisions for firms considering applying to become part of this network to consider. Applicants must already hold one or more MoD equipment or platform support contract, be familiar with the processes surrounding metal 3D printing certification and have a defense channel network in place, to be considered.
That said, the MoD says “further funding may be considered” if the project runs for the full seven years, and it has committed to reopening admission on a twice-yearly basis for additional suppliers to join.
Those interested can access the full terms and conditions andapply to join Project TAMPAnow via the UK MoD website.
全球防御中的3D打印
While the UK’s MoD continues to experiment with 3D printing, it’s not necessarily the leader in advancing the technology’s military applications. The美国国防部, for instance, has taken a strong interest in additive manufacturing, with theUS Navy installing a Xerox 3D printer在USS Essex，选择spee3dto participate in the MAINTENX exercise, earlier in 2022.
In Europe, meanwhile,HENSOLDT已经成功地进行了地面测试3D打印Kalaetron Attack Jammer。该设备主要是为欧洲战斗机（Eurofighter）等喷气式飞机而设计的，它基本上用于检测和干扰各种防空雷达类型，包括最尖端的系统。
在2022年3月，法国初创企业手用also announced that it had equipped the French Air and Space Force with a newaerospace 3D printing microfactory。该公司的智能农场位于空军基地204的I3D研讨会上，生产功能性原型，备件和按需零件。
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Featured image shows a sign outside the UK Ministry of Defence’s main building. Photo via the Ministry of Defence.
