https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/israels-first-3d-printed-uav-takes-to-the-skies15 June 2020 00:00 GMT+0
Israel's first 3D-printed UAV takes to the skies
The joint programme by the MoD’s Flight Technologies Department, part of the Directorate for Defense Research and Development, and IAI has seen the production of the SkysPrinter UAV and a successful test flight in December 2019.
The electrically powered UAV was made from 26 parts printed using metal, nylon, carbon, and complex materials. These were assembled together with glue and fasteners without the need for specialised tools. SkysPrinter's body is 1.65 m-long, has a wingspan of 1.5 m, and a take-off weight of 7 kg, according to the MoD.
Neta Blum, head of the Flight Technologies Department, introduced the idea of a 3D-printed UAV system and the MoD allocated research and development resources over the past year, leading to the test flight.
Neta Blum, the head of the Israeli MoD’s Flight Technologies Department, standing next to the SkysPrinter. (Israeli MoD)
