A German government report says the military doesn’t have spare part design data or manufacturing rights, but is buying 3D printers anyway.
In a rather scathing publically released assessment this week, the German government’s internal auditors say the military (Bundeswehr) has spent more than $3M on roughly 33 3D printers in the past three years alone with plans to spend another $15M+ in the next three years all for a spare parts repository with only 10 parts in it.
The paltry part depository is due to the fact, according to the auditors, that the army has failed to acquire design data and manufacturing rights for equipment and weapon systems it has commissioned.
Like many global militaries, especially the U.S. military, the Bundeswehr is sold on the idea that 3D printing can aid in overall readiness and improve the often poor supply of spare parts for its famously aging weapon systems. Its investigations have found that 3D printing does not require special production facilities and spare parts can be manufactured as needed in various locations.
