Coindesk Logo

The US Navy Wants to Connect Its 3-D Printers with a Blockchain

The US Navy Wants to Connect Its 3-D Printers with a Blockchain

The US Navy Wants to Connect Its 3-D Printers with a Blockchain

The US Navy will run a blockchain trial this summer – a test largely aimed to boost the security of its manufacturing systems.

The US Navy will run a blockchain trial this summer – a test largely aimed to boost the security of its manufacturing systems.

The US Navy will run a blockchain trial this summer – a test largely aimed to boost the security of its manufacturing systems.

AccessTimeIconJun 26, 2017, 1:15 PM
Updated Aug 18, 2021, 6:23 PM

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

The US Navy's innovation arm has revealed plans to trial blockchain's potential to bring added security to its manufacturing systems.

In an announcement released last week, the Navy said it will apply the technology to its processes for additive manufacturing – known more popularly as 3-D printing – in a bid to "securely share data throughout the manufacturing process" as it creates "critical" equipment for deployed forces.

Led by the Naval Innovation Advisory Council, the trial will use blockchain to create a data-sharing layer between the Navy's 3-D various printing sites over the summer, with a report on its proof-of-concept effort due this autumn.

Lieutenant commander Jon McCarter wrote in a blog post last week:

"This summer the [Naval Innovation Advisory Council] will conduct a series of experiments (including a proof of concept) using blockchain technology to both securely share data between Additive Manufacturing sites, as well as help secure the digital thread of design and production."

Calling the intersection of blockchain and 3-D printing "a perfect match", McCarter wrote that identifying new avenues to share information between building sites "will form the foundation for future advanced manufacturing initiatives."

This is the first publicly acknowledged use case for blockchain announced by the Navy, though the Department of Defense has explored other applications for the technology. Further, a former DoD official recently called on the US government to more actively support the tech in the fight against cyberthreats.

Navy jet image via Shutterstock

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.