--- title: Boeing begins 3D-printing Apache helicopter parts-Defense News description: Boeing plans to begin testing a full 3D-printing of a main rotor system for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in the spring of next year as part of an image: https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/BGQTERRFSBEGFOZIE4QNGFTNT4-1.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.aegraphics.com/boeing-begins-3d-printing-apache-helicopter-parts-defense-news#main-content) [![AE Graphics Logo](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AE%20Graphics%20Logo%202015_GlassButton%20email.jpg?width=596&height=138&name=AE%20Graphics%20Logo%202015_GlassButton%20email.jpg "AE Graphics Logo")](https://aegraphics.com) - [3D Printing](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/3d-printing) # Boeing begins 3D-printing Apache helicopter parts-Defense News ![A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter flies overhead at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/BGQTERRFSBEGFOZIE4QNGFTNT4-1.jpg)  Boeing plans to begin testing a full 3D-printed main rotor system for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in the spring of next year as part of an effort to cut out long-lead times and improve the overall supply chains for parts that are typically forged, according to company officials. At the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference last week, a Boeing and ASTRO America team displayed its first 3D part, a main rotor link assembly, printed on what is currently the world’s largest 3D metal printer at Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. ASTRO, a nonprofit funded by the U.S. government, won a $95 million contract from the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center to provide engineering support to develop additive manufacturing capabilities of large-size, large-scale parts including entire hulls for tanks and other combat vehicles as well as other prototype parts, explained ASTRO engineer Emma Gallegos. That effort, called the Jointless Hull Project, involves a machine that is big enough to print an entire, single-piece M1 Abrams tank hull, she said. [Read more here](https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/10/18/boeing-begins-3d-printing-apache-helicopter-parts/) ## Previous Articles Search Through Our Previous Posts [![Canon Americas HQ Long Island](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/ce23830b-a04a-4ebd-b90a-94b2768266c3-2.png)](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-us-headquarters-retains-status-as-best-office-building) [LEED Building Design](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/leed-building-design), [Design Awards](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/design-awards) ### [Canon US Headquarters Retains Status As Best Office Building](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-us-headquarters-retains-status-as-best-office-building) August 23, 2023 It was a sweet repeat for Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, which saw its Canon Americas... [Read more](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-us-headquarters-retains-status-as-best-office-building) [![Canon HQ Tokyo](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/iu-1.jpg)](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-places-fifth-in-us-patent-rankings-top-five-for-37-years-running) [Canon](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/canon), [Patent](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/patent) ### [Canon places fifth in US patent rankings-top five for 37 years running](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-places-fifth-in-us-patent-rankings-top-five-for-37-years-running) January 17, 2024 Canon Inc. (Canon-CNA.com) ranked fifth for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2022, becoming the only company in... [Read more](https://blog.aegraphics.com/canon-places-fifth-in-us-patent-rankings-top-five-for-37-years-running) [![Building Construction](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Types-of-building-materials-2.jpg)](https://blog.aegraphics.com/5-building-products-stocks-riding-the-industry-wave-yahoo-finance) [Building Products](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/building-products), [Stocks](https://blog.aegraphics.com/tag/stocks) ### [5 Building Products Stocks Riding the Industry Wave-Yahoo! Finance](https://blog.aegraphics.com/5-building-products-stocks-riding-the-industry-wave-yahoo-finance) September 3, 2024 Increased government infrastructure spending is bolstering companies in the Zacks Building Products - Miscellaneous... [Read more](https://blog.aegraphics.com/5-building-products-stocks-riding-the-industry-wave-yahoo-finance) [Check all articles](https://blog.aegraphics.com) [![Thrifty](https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/@marketplace/Juice_Tactics_Snacks/Thrifty/images/thrifty-color.svg "Thrifty")](http://aegraphics.com) Thrifty comes with everything to get your business, Rolling. Take your chance to try our freemium theme and crack a mirror for your business. Because you’re out of luck and in control with us. ### Pages - Home - About - Services - Pillar - Content Download - Blog - Pricing - Contact #### Blog - Blog Listing - Blog Post - Blog Author - Case Studies - Case Study #### Contact - 404 Error - 500 Error - Email subscription preferences - Unsubscribe backup pages - Subscription update confirmation - Password Prompt - Search Results ### Subscribe to our Blog © 2026 A/E Graphics, Inc. | Epic Color | B&L Graphic Solutions - [General Conditions](https://aegraphics.com/terms-conditions-digital-printing-plotters-milwaukee-wi/) - [Privacy Policy](https://aegraphics.com/privacy-policy-digital-printing-plotters-milwaukee-wi/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Taubenheim", "url" : "https://blog.aegraphics.com/author/tom-taubenheim" }, "dateModified" : "2023-11-08T14:05:01.086Z", "datePublished" : "2023-11-08T14:05:00.000Z", "headline" : "Boeing begins 3D-printing Apache helicopter parts-Defense News", "image" : [ "https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/BGQTERRFSBEGFOZIE4QNGFTNT4-1.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.aegraphics.com/boeing-begins-3d-printing-apache-helicopter-parts-defense-news", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.aegraphics.com/hubfs/Divisions_vertical%20logos-1.png" }, "name" : "A/E Graphics, Inc. | Epic Color | B&L Graphic Solutions" } } ```