ADDITIV Defense virtual summit set for early May
3Dnatives has announced the inaugural edition of ADDITIV Defense, a global virtual summit dedicated to Additive Manufacturing in military and defence environments. The event will take place on May 6, 2026, and will bring together defence decision-makers, industry leaders, and AM experts to discuss where AM fits into real operations.
AM is becoming a strategic asset across the military supply chain, with the aerospace and defence segment reportedly projected to grow at roughly 17% annually through 2030, according to a 2026 ResearchAndMarkets report cited by the organiser. Modern conflicts increasingly target logistics first, and the ability to manufacture on demand, closer to the point of need, is reshaping how defence forces think about readiness and resilience, the company states.
Filippos Voulpiotis, Managing Director of 3Dnatives, shared, “Defence organisations are no longer asking whether additive manufacturing has a place in their operations. They are asking how to scale it, certify it, and deploy it where it matters most. ADDITIV Defense was created to provide a space for these conversations, bringing together decision-makers and experts working to move the technology into real-world use.”
ADDITIV Defense is expected to attract more than 700 attendees. The event will feature three expert panel discussions with live audience Q&A, alongside targeted networking via Swapcard, with the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings.
Panel 1 will focus on military logistics, exploring how AM can enable forces to produce parts in forward-deployed environments, build digital inventories, and maintain equipment when traditional supply chains fall short. Speakers include Sherri Monroe, Executive Director of AMGTA, Aaron Johns, Vice President of Digital Solutions at Siemens Government Technologies, Michael Pecota of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and Daniel Braley of V2X Inc.
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Panel 2 will address hardware production, examining the journey from prototype to serial production for drones and mission equipment, with discussion around design for AM, material selection, and balancing production speed with durability. Speakers include Alison Wyrick Mendoza of ASTM International, Mike York, Director of Additive Manufacturing and Digital Engineering at Eaton Aerospace, Prof. Kelvin Fu of the University of Delaware, and Howard Marotto of The Barnes Global Advisors.
Panel 3 will tackle why, despite years of development, AM still struggles to achieve full adoption for critical defence components, and what needs to change on qualification, standards, and risk acceptance before critical defence components can see broader adoption. Speakers include Gil Lavi, Founder and CEO of 3D Alliances, Stephen McKee, Technical Fellow for Advanced Manufacturing and Repair at ASTM International/Wohlers Associates, Evren Yasa, Head of Additive Manufacturing at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and Moritz Kolter of the Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing (ACAM).
Those interested in attending can register for free here.
