Divergent 3D-Prints Cruise Missiles in 71 Days for Pentagon's 'Arsenal of Freedom'
Defense startup Divergent has successfully used 3D printing to manufacture complete cruise missile airframes, achieving a rapid prototype-to-flight timeline of just 71 days.
Key Points
- Divergent can produce hundreds of missile airframes per year with each printer.
- A recent project went from concept to first flight in 71 days.
- The company is part of the Pentagon's 'Arsenal of Freedom' initiative.
- Technology aims to revitalize American manufacturing for national security.
Full Details
Divergent, a defense-tech startup, is rapidly scaling its 3D-printing technology to produce cruise missiles for the Pentagon's 'Arsenal of Freedom' initiative. The company's printers, engineered and manufactured in the U.S., can produce hundreds of missile airframes annually. In a recent demonstration, Divergent worked with a prime contractor to take a missile from a whiteboard design to first flight in just 71 days, a process that traditionally takes years. This capability is central to the Trump administration's effort to revitalize America's manufacturing might and mobilize the defense industrial base. Co-founder Lukas Czinger stated that the U.S. has an opportunity to create the world's leading manufacturing base by adopting this 'leapfrog technology'.
Why It Matters
This signals a fundamental shift in military manufacturing, moving from slow, traditional supply chains to rapid, digital production, which could drastically reduce response times for military needs and give the U.S. a significant strategic advantage.
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