Under threat of air strikes, US looks to bolster base infrastructure with 3D printing

The US Air Force is seeking mobile concrete 3D-printing technology to build protective base infrastructure under a direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research solicitation closing in January 2027. The project combines printable cementitious materials, automated or semi-automated construction and structures designed to reduce blast reflection, pressure amplification and fragmentation paths. The service wants equipment that lightly trained military personnel can operate in austere conditions, using local materials where feasible to reduce specialist labour and logistical demands. The effort addresses the survivability of expeditionary facilities rather than simply construction speed, with protective geometries and material performance still requiring development and evaluation.