Additive Manufacturing in the Military Technology Sector

A close-up of a machine showing a mechanical arm with a conical metal tip. A laser beam is directed from this tip at a layered shape, appearing to form a new layer on top of it.

Photo: © shutterstock/sspopov

New PRIF Report by Liska Suckau

The potential of additive manu­facturing – also known as 3D printing – has been a topic of dis­cussion for some time now, including in the mili­tary sector, ranging from its inte­gration into the military to its use in the manufac­turing of weapons by non-state actors.

In the new PRIF Report, Liska Suckau pro­vides a unique over­view of the socio-­technical environ­ment of addi­tive manu­facturing in the military sector. She dis­cusses the rele­vant actors and uses real-life exam­ples to show which factors influence and limit the use of 3D prin­ting in the mili­tary sector. 

Liska Suckau is a Re­searcher at PRIF’s Research Department International Security and with the Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research (CNTR). Her research interests are war and peace research, in particular new technologies in warfare, military innovation, critical military studies, arms control and gender. 

The report is available for download (PDF).