The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is developing 3D-printing technology for body armour components, enabling rapid production and repairs.
Experts at the lab believe this will make army units less reliant on supply chains — damaged parts can simply be printed on-site. Plus, the hassle of tailoring body armour to each soldier’s height and build will be a thing of the past, since plates can be printed in the exact size and shape needed.
Currently, the main challenge lies in producing ceramic materials strong enough — 3D printing comes with its own set of limitations. Lionel Vargas-Gonzalez, an ARL researcher, suggests that a solution might be building multiple thin layers of varying density, much like how mollusc shells grow.
Ideally, the goal is to produce plates that are practically on par with traditional ones.