The U.S. Army needs to “get religion” on 3D printing , especially for parts that require constant replacement, service secretary Ryan McCarthy said Saturday.

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Speaking to reporters at the Reagan National Defense Forum , McCarthy acknowledged that industry may be unenthusiastic about the Army taking on 3D printing for small replacement parts, given the lucrative business model associated with it. But ultimately, he said, it has to happen both to increase Army capability and to reduce costs.

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“What really kills us is parts. Parts: It’s why weapon systems have challenging operational readiness rates, it’s why weapon systems continue to get heavier over time as you incrementally upgrade the system,” McCarthy said. The idea of 3D […]

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