Jay Clemens
The  defense industry continues to adopt the use of three-dimensional printing in order to build military equipment parts, Defense One reported Monday.
Marcus Weisgerber writes Lockheed Martin builds tools for the F-35 fighter jet with 30 printers.
Lockheed’s Mark Johnson told the publication the company uses 3D-printed tools to develop bracket locators and drill templates for the aircraft, according to the report.
“We are working on 3D printing of parts, but they are still a few years in the future,” Johnson said.
The U.S. Navy already uses the additive manufacturing system to develop tools aboard the USS Essex amphibious assault ship, Defense One reports.
Adm. James Winnefeld, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told audiences at the Concordia Summit in New York that the Navy also wants to build spare parts for ships and aircraft in the future using the technology, Weisgerber reports.
