Military 4D Printing Market

The global military 4D printing market size is projected to be valued at $16.1 million in 2030, and is expected to reach $673.4 million by 2040, registering a CAGR of 45.2% from 2030 to 2040.

4D printing technology is the process that allows the printed objects to self-transform over time. It is also known as additive manufacturing technology that allows nanoscale manipulation and programming during the production process to ultimately create products designed to adapt to their environment. The printed object can change shape due to many factors such as air, heat, pressure and magnetism. It is an advancement to the 3D printing technology, which can be created by using smart material and software program in the 3D printing machine. Hence, it is a novel technology and is on the verge of commercialization.

Currently, the defense industry is adopting the 4D printing technologies to simplify the process of manufacturing of parts and components, as well as weapons and equipment. With the changes in battlefield requirements, the equipment that changes (shape or properties) in accordance with the environment is likely to help armies gain an upper hand. To have this tactical advantage, investments in 4D printed weapons are anticipated to grow rapidly in the future. For instance, the U.S. Army Research Center is coming up with new technologies, such as a soldier’s uniform that can offer protection against toxic gases effectively or alter its own camouflage while traveling through different climates. Such robust development in the defense sector is anticipated to boost the growth for the global military 4D printing market in the forecast period.

Factors such as surge in military application to boost the product demand, increasing investments by armed forces into technology, and rise in adoption of lightweight components is expected to drive the military 4d printing industry growth. However, complex design of both hardware & software section and lack of standardization in process are some of the factors that hinders the market growth. Furthermore, technological advancements and rise in demand for Industry 4.0 and emergence of Industry 5.0 are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for military 4D printing market growth.

The military 4D printing market is segmented into technique, material, properties, application, and region. By technique, it is fragmented into fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS) & selective laser melting (SLM), and others. Based on material, it is classified into hydrogels, thermo-responsive, photo-responsive, electro & magneto responsive, and others (piezoelectric materials and pH-positive). By properties, the market is divided into self-assembly, self-repair, and self-adaptability. By application, the market is categorized into army, navy, and air force. By region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

3D Systems, Inc., ABB, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electro material Science (ACES), Autodesk Inc., Dassault Systems, ExOne, Fracktal Works Private Limited, General Electric (GE), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Höganäs AB, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Materialise, Merck KGaA, Optomec, Inc., Organovo Holdings, Inc., Proto Labs, and Stratasys are some of the leading key players operating in the military 4D Printing market.

Surge in military application to boost the product demand

The military & defense segment of various nations has been developing advanced printing technologies to assist soldiers in various combat missions and operations. This has increased the performance of military weapons such as guns, machinery, tanks, and trucks which in turn expected to boost demand for 4D printers in the defense sector. Countries such as the U.S., China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, France and the UK among others have the strongest military in the world, hence emerging with continuous technological advancements in military weapons to be future-ready and secure. For instance, the U.S. Army Research Center is coming up with new technologies, such as a soldier’s uniform that can offer protection against toxic gases effectively or alter its own camouflage while traveling through different climates. Such robust development in the defense sector is anticipated to boost the growth for the global military 4D printing market.

Increasing investments by armed forces into technology

Governments of countries such as Russia, the U.S., China, India, and others are increasing investment in arm forces to establish dominance on the battlefield. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total global military expenditure rose to $1981 billion in 2020, an increase of 2.6 percent from 2019. In addition, the rise in terrorist activities and civil activities in several regions of the world and rising international conflicts have tends to countries to enhance their military strengths through advancements in technologies, such factors increase the demand for adoption of the 4D printing technologies in armed forces. In addition, governments of various countries significantly spending on military modernization programs to bolster infrastructure and posture for continued dominance into the future. For instance, in 2019, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) of the U.S. Army acquired a Rize One 3D printer, for manufacturing of on-demand 4D printing technology. Such efforts by the governments & armed forces, to integrate the advanced 4D printing technology for manufacturing parts and components propels the demand of 4D printing market in the forecast period.   

Lack of standardization in process

Several research and development projects specific to 4D printing are underway in industries, such as healthcare, electronics, automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer appliances (fashion and consumer durables), textile, construction, and industrial machinery. Despite being a novel technology, 4D printing technology needs to overcome several technological hurdles prior to owing to lack of potential opportunities which are acknowledged by several experts in the field. Moreover, the market for 4D printing is at nascent stage owing to lack of research and development activities, lack of multi-material printers, lack of low-cost printers and smart materials, slow print times, and the limited reliability of printed objects in the long run. Thus, owing the material availability limitations & lack of standardization process hinders the use of 4D printing technology in military applications.

Technological advancement

The technological advancements in 4D printing such as fused deposition modeling, electron beam melting, and portable 4D printing system are resulting in the adoption of 4D printing technologies in the medical and defense sector. Currently, researchers use direct inkjet cure, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, laser-assisted bioprinting, and selective laser melting methods for 4D printing. For instance, the U.S. Air Force is using 3D & 4D printed parts on C-5 Galaxy transport jets. The parts are used in various parts of the cabin and crew bunk areas of the plane, which include overhead panels, reading and emergency light covers, window reveals, and gasper panels. Also, the U.S. Air Force plans to add 20 additional components on the aircraft, made from polymers and high-end metals, such as titanium. Moreover, with the changes in battlefield requirements, the 3D-printing manufacturers have upgraded their technologies to 4D printing by delivering addictive manufacturing technology which unlocking opportunities for the defense industry by reducing production costs for tools & components, additional design flexibility, and localized manufacturing. Additionally, additive manufacturing can also enhance the maintenance of military systems by producing spare or obsolete parts. Such innovation & development in 4D printing technology create lucrative opportunity in the defense sector in the forecast period.

The COVID-19 crisis is creating uncertainty in the military 4D printing industry. Governments of different regions have already announced total lockdown and temporarily shutdown of industries, thereby adversely affecting the overall production and sales. Countries around the globe have posed stringent restrictions ranging from days to months of lockdown periods. Owing to this pandemic, many businesses are halted and are waiting for the market conditions to improve. Majority of the developing facilities & research centers has been shut down during the pandemic due to commute restrictions, workforce unavailability, and supply chain disturbance. Private and commercial security industries were one of the most severely affected industries by the pandemic and observed a decline of investments initially. Furthermore, the reduced GDP of major economies such as the U.S., the UK, China, France, India, Germany, and others, in 2020 resulted to a decline in investment in the defense industry, thereby affected the 4D printing market which is expected to result in major losses throughout the year. However, military 4D printing production is expected to be more agile after the end of COVID-19. Although industry participant’s experienced short-term disruption in delivery systems and roll-outs, such disruption has created new opportunities for 4D printing technology with in defense sector and has boosted usage of technology across different commercial sectors. For instance, in 2022, the U.S. Navy released a plan to pair suppliers who cannot meet growing demand for submarine parts with 3D & 4D printing companies that can print the metal parts around the clock to boost supply. Hence, a rise in the usage of addictive manufacturing technology (4D printing) across different aerospace and defense applications is expected to bolster the demand for military 4D printing market during the forecast period.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

• This study presents analytical depiction of the global military 4D printing market analysis along with current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets.
• The overall military 4D printing market opportunity is determined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.
• The report presents information related to the key drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the global military 4D printing market with a detailed impact analysis.
• The current military 4D printing market is quantitatively analyzed from 2030 to 2040 to benchmark the financial competency.
• Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the industry.

 Military 4D Printing Market Report Highlights