Israeli Air Force eyes 3-D printing as a hedge against wartime disruptions

By: Barbara Opall

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In a country steeped in political controversy and surrounded by strategic threats, military planners in Israel are looking to 3-D printing to bolster wartime self-sufficiency in the event of embargoes or supply chain disruptions.

Here at Depot 22 ― the Israeli Air Force’s central depot tasked with repairing and maintaining much of the force’s fixed-wing aircraft ― commanders are preparing to transition from 3-D scanning of selected parts to actual 3-D printing of those parts. The transition process, officers say, involves meticulous evaluation and testing, and will focus only on nonstructural parts that can endure stress loads of flight.