Military 3D Printing Market Analysis | 2022-2027

Market Insights

The military 3d printing market was estimated at USD 0.7 billion in 2021 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% during 2022-2027 to reach USD 1.7 billion in 2027.

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Market Dynamics

Introduction

3D printing is one of the emerging technologies of industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution, which is used to create a three-dimensional object through the layer-by-layer deposition of material by utilizing the computer-created design. The significance of 3D printing in the military is of paramount importance, as it offers rapid production of parts and supports military readiness on the battlefield.

Furthermore, it shortens the supply chain as the required parts/structures can be self-produced anywhere and anytime. However, the utilization of this technology is still at the introduction stage as it is majorly used to produce prototypes and perform analysis for its suitability for the military before its use in real operations.

COVID-19 Impact

Military 3D-Printing, a sizeable market, also was not able to resist the attack of the pandemic and witnessed a decline of -3.8% in 2020 amid the pandemic. However, the industry gradually rebounded in 2021 with the resumption of manufacturing facilities, availability of materials, the continuation of pending projects, etc.

Furthermore, the growth of 3D-printing applications, the emergence of new technologies, increasing flexibility of materials, etc. would support the growth of the market in the coming years.

Segments Analysis

By Platform Type

"Airborne platform is the largest and the fastest-growing platform type in the market during the forecast period."

• The market is segmented into airborne, naval, and land.
• Airborne platform is the largest and the fastest-growing platform type in the market during the forecast period.
• With large and wide-scale utilization of 3D printing for military aircraft and drones. 
• Increasing demand for 3D printing for replacement parts to support aircraft sustainability management.
• 3D printing is highly utilized for the MRO activity of military aircraft, especially in the production of spare parts for old aircraft which are unable to be obtained from their respective suppliers.
• Moreover, with the production of new aircraft, the use of 3D printing would grow more in the production of custom and complex parts.

By Offering Type

"Printers are expected to remain the dominant offering type in the market during the forecast period."

• The market is segmented into printer, material, software, and service.
• Printers are expected to remain the dominant offering type in the market during the forecast period, owing to the increasing preference of the military for 3D-printed parts coupled with the increasing trend of portable 3D printers, which can be utilized anywhere at any point in time.

By Application Type

"Prototyping applications will remain the largest application type in the market during the forecast period.”

• The market is segmented into prototyping, parts manufacturing, and tooling.
• Prototyping will remain the largest application type in the market during the forecast period.
• Increasing R&Ds associated with applications of 3D printing in military products.
• A large number of prototypes are made by military personnel to test the suitability of 3D-printed parts for military environments.
• However, the shift towards actual parts production for real operations will drive the growth of parts manufacturing applications over the next five years.

By Process Type

"Material Extrusion will remain the most preferred process type in the market during the forecast period."

• The market is segmented into material extrusion, powder bed fusion, vat photopolymerization, binder jetting, directed energy deposition, and others.
• Material Extrusion will remain the most preferred process type in the market during the forecast period, owing to the ease of operation and cost efficiency offered by the process.
• This process is highly preferred by the military to produce polymer prototypes.

Regional Insights

“North America will remain the largest market, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period”.

• The market is broken down geographically into areas, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW).
• North America is expected to remain the largest market for military 3D printing during the forecast period.
• 3D printing is highly utilized by the US military in their home and overseas military bases.
• The USA is the global leader in terms of market size as well as growth in military 3D printing, propelled by favorable government policies with the sole aim of expanding the utilization of 3D printing.
• For instance, recently in January 2021, The US Department of Defense unveiled its additive manufacturing strategy to achieve widescale adoption of 3D printing by integrating 3D printing in its department and defense industrial bases and promotion of training and research and its agile and secure usage in defense.
• The highest defense expenditure of the country paired with the heavy funding for defense R&Ds will support the growth of the market in the region over the coming years.
• Asia-Pacific is likely to grow at the fastest rate in the coming five years.
• This region has a large number of markets/countries with reasonably high defense expenditures, which are ready to grab the opportunities offered by this technology.
• Moreover, there is a large amount of research in various countries, further boosting the pace of adoption of 3D printing in the region.

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Key Players

The market for military 3D printing is consolidating as the major companies are performing mergers & acquisitions to quickly gain the leading position and to tap growing opportunities in this briskly expanding market. For instance, Desktop Metal, Inc., a leading provider of metal and carbon fiber 3D-printing solutions, acquired The Exone Company.

The supply chain of this market comprises several nodes, including suppliers and distributors of 3D-printed parts, printers, materials, 3D-printing software providers, 3D-printing service providers, OEMs, and MRO companies using 3D printing.

The following are the key players in the market (arranged alphabetically):

• 3D Systems Corporation
• Desktop Metal Inc.
• GE Aviation (GE Additive)
• Markforged Inc.
• OC Oerlikon Management AG
• Optomec, Inc.
• Proadways Group
• Stratasys Ltd.
• The Exone Company (Now a part of Desktop Metal Inc.)
• Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (Wipro 3D)

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

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Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors

Market Segmentation

This report studies the market, covering a period of 12 years of trends and forecasts. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The military 3D printing market is segmented into the following categories:

By Platform Type

• Airborne
• Naval
• Land

By Offering Type

• Printer
• Material
• Software
• Service

By Application Type

• Prototyping
• Parts Manufacturing
• Tooling

By Process Type

• Material Extrusion
• Powder Bed Fusion
• VAT Photopolymerization
• Binder Jetting
• Directed Energy Deposition
• Others

By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: the USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, the UK, Russia, Spain, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America, the Middle East, and Others)

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s military 3D printing market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2022 to 2027. After a continuous interest in our military 3D printing market report from the industry stakeholders, we have tried to further accentuate our research scope to the military 3D printing market to provide the most crystal-clear picture of the market. The report segments and analyses the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

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Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances.

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