According to Lieutenant Commander Michael Llenza, author of a recent commentary on the uses of 3-D printing by the U.S. Navy, advances in this burgeoning technology could change the way sailors and Marines build and repair aircraft, obtain ammunition, design shelters, produce food and treat sickness and injury.

In the words of Neil Gershenfeld of MIT, 3-D printing allows us to make "things into data and data back into things." For the U.S. Navy these "things" include spare parts for aircraft and printable drones.

 

"Instead of actual parts, a ship might carry 3-D printers and bags of various powdered ingredients and simply download the design files needed to print items as necessary," wrote Llenza.