Navy Other nations could use 3D printing to develop atomic arsenals, according to the chief of naval operations.

“Much is changing here in the nuclear world,” Adm. John Richardson said July 2 during remarks at a breakfast in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “There are more nations seeking to join the club. Some with high technology, some with low technology. … It’s relatively simple. With the advent of additive manufacturing and 3D printing, these types of weapons are going to be very easy to craft in very small scale.”

These systems might include “dirty bombs” that use high explosives to spread radioactive materials, he noted. The United States could be entering an era where these types of weapons are part of the strategic landscape, which would give other countries asymmetric capabilities to undermine U.S. military advantages. Meanwhile, great power adversaries such as Russia […]

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