The US Army‘s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is using 3D printing to advance the development of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The EagleWerx Applied Tactical Innovation Center at Fort Campbell is currently producing drone systems for the upcoming “Operation Lethal Eagle” training exercise, a 21-day large-scale maneuver designed to improve the division’s capability in large-scale air assault.
“This is bigger than simply printing parts. We are reshaping the sUAS enterprise at the tactical level,” said Col. Travis McIntosh, deputy commanding officer for support of the 101st Airborne Division. He said the project will impact the entire unit as it would affect “how we do small UAS in the division, from air worthiness to parts ordering, to fielding and training.”
In cooperation with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 100 sUAS units have been designed and manufactured to date. The control consoles for these systems were procured at a fraction of the cost of conventional models. The use of 3D printing technology not only allows for fast and flexible manufacturing, but also customization based on soldier feedback.
“We have done multiple Soldier touch points, demos, and flight tests so luckily, we have already received great end user feedback”, said Capt. Andrew Blomquist, Innovation Officer of the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “One Soldier in particular that has experience with all of the previously fielded sUAS was surprised with its performance.”
A soldier familiar with previous sUAS versions was impressed with the performance of the new 3D-printed models. The division plans to permanently integrate these drones into its equipment and is already preparing for the next operational test in the spring at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
The project demonstrates how 3D printing technologies can improve the flexibility and efficiency of military equipment while reducing costs and setting new standards for tactical systems.
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