EDA’s AM lab completes flight test
The European Defence Agency’s (EDA) Additive Manufacturing (AM or 3D-printing) lab has completed a successful test flight on-board a Spanish C-130, fulfilling all airlift requirements for a military deployment and civilian transport, the EDA announced on 2 June.
The test flight, which lasted 30 minutes, was carried out during the European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course 17-3 (EAATTC 17-3) currently underway in Zaragoza, Spain. The test examined the feasibility of the facility to be deployed by air. After landing, the lab and its equipment were inspected and found to have faced no issues during the airlift.
EDA’s ‘Additive Manufacturing Feasibility Study and Technology Demonstration’ project aims to assess the areas where 3D-printing can have a positive impact on defence capabilities and demonstrate its feasibility.
The lab has now been moved to its final location at Zaragoza air base to begin producing test parts. Technicians will work with EAATTC 17-3 officials to identify operational requirements that could be fulfilled by an AM facility. Together, the technicians and the officials will select a number of different test parts to be produced on site and on demand, with different grades of complexity.
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