At this year’s Exercise Rim of the Pacific, the U.S. military is putting a major emphasis on logistics and new technology as it looks at operations across the Pacific. One technology that’s getting special attention is 3D printers, a rapidly evolving technology that uses computers and manufacturing equipment to quickly build tools and components to machines—in this case, military vehicles and weapons systems.
As the military looks at vulnerable supply chains and struggling manufacturing hubs, 3D printers are an appealing tool to commanders.
“This is the largest exercise of this type that has been conducted, ” said U.S. Marine Chief Warrant Officer Matt Pine, who specializes in military capabilities for the technology. “We’ve been working at Camp Pendleton aggressively getting out into exercises, taking our capabilities out, showcasing it through the fleet.”
The 3D printing aspect of RIMPAC is being put together in part by FleetWerx, a technology and strategy initiative associated with the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
“The whole goal of what we’re doing here is for all the services, the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps, the Army, ” said Patrick Tucker, a contractor with FleetWerx. “We’re trying to bring together advanced manufacturing in one exercise. It’s aspirational, but I think we’re advancing with it.”
For the exercise, a series of 3D printers are both on land and at sea, with a…
