The Indian 3D printing specialist MiCoB Private Limited reports the delivery of more than 500 blast- and bullet-resistant 3D-printed bunkers to the Indian Army. The structures are produced using 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) and are deployed as permanent protective installations in border regions – from high-altitude snow areas to desert zones. The aim is to combine protection, thermal insulation and comfort for occupants with short construction times.
The so-called 3D Printed Bunkers or Permanent Defences are based on proprietary concrete mixes, printing systems and geometries.
Dr. Shashank Shekhar, Co-founder and CEO of MiCoB, stated: “Delivering 500+ 3D Printed Bunkers (3D PDs) to the Indian Army is more than an achievement, it’s a powerful demonstration of how innovation meets purpose to strengthen and protect our nation. Each structure has been thoughtfully designed with a deep understanding of the Army’s on-ground realities, ensuring every feature enhances safety, comfort, and operational readiness, even in the most challenging terrains.
Collectively, we have delivered more than 650 3D Printed buildings across the nation, which is highest in terms of 3D printed volume globally. The world’s first operational 5 star 3D printed resort was successfully delivered by us last year. In the projects delivered by us, we saved over 20,000 tons of construction material compared to conventional methodology, aligning with our motto of building sustainably with speed. This is a proud moment for India as we are leading the innovation and adoption of 3D concrete printing technology, and the active support from various government and private stakeholders will position India as a leader in the sustainable construction practices.”
According to the company, the automated construction process reduces the construction time from around 45 days to less than a week. This makes it possible to reinforce positions in sensitive areas more quickly without having to rely on conventional formwork and masonry work.
Before being widely deployed, the bunkers were fired upon in 2022 at the Pokharan test range and exposed, among other things, to the fire of a T-90 battle tank. Since then, further tests have been carried out under different geo-climatic conditions. MiCoB also points to awards under the National Startup Award and the iDEX initiative for ballistically protected, transportable bunkers.
According to its own figures, the company has already additively constructed more than 650 buildings in total, saving several tens of thousands of tonnes of material compared to conventional construction methods.
In parallel, MiCoB is further developing its 3DCP platform for civil projects such as residential buildings and tourist facilities. The bunker programs are seen as an example of how automated concrete manufacturing, robotics and material-efficient geometries can feed into India’s security-relevant infrastructure.
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