The United States has always been characterized by trying to equip its armies with the latest technology, due to this it is not surprising that, during all this time we have seen how many projects are trying to integrate 3D printing to all kinds of missions . On this occasion they surprise us with the weapon that you see just above these lines, nothing less than a 3d printed grenade launcher.
Considering the little documentation that there is in this regard, apparently this weapon has been created under the RAMBO project, its acronym in English. We are dealing with nothing less than an M203 grenade launcher equipped with a stock and pistol grip, manufactured almost entirely using 3D printing technologies. As a detail, tell you that the weapon is composed of more than 50 different elements, some made of plastic and others of aluminum.
The United States Army already has 3D printed weaponry.
Apparently, in the tests carried out, it has been possible to develop a weapon that works practically the same as a traditional grenade launcher. As expected, the United States Army is very satisfied with the results since thanks to 3D printing it will be able to create prototypes of new experimental weapons at a very low cost, something that in the end will positively and significantly affect the budget.
On the other hand, getting an army to build fully customized weapons through 3D printing at a reduced cost is something that should alarm us considerably since these plans could fall into the wrong hands and, anyone, in their home or office, could reach build weapons of any kind. According to the developers of the RAMBO project:
With normal printing methods one would take months and thousands of dollars to build just one unit, not to mention that it takes extensive engineering knowledge to build it.
The truth is that they have only been slow 3 days to build the big launcher that you see on the screen.