Defense & Intelligence Policy, Business and Technology

3D Printing as an Emerging Homeland Security Risk

Homeland Security Today: 3D printers can manufacture items with practically no waste using minimal materials based off a simple computer-aided design, or CAD, file. Highly versatile, 3D printers can print virtually any item, including cars, lawn mowers, office buildings and even weapons. This advancement changes the highly regulated arms manufacturing industry by making “homemade” weapons available to any number of individuals around the world.

Because CAD files of weapon designs and the 3D printers used to make them are unregulated and widespread, 3D printed weapons are becoming more available to the public. As unregulated access to 3D printers, materials and digital files grow, “homemade” 3D weapons will likely proliferate. Because of these factors, 3D printed weapons will likely create new challenges in countering domestic terrorism, as any motivated individual in possession of a 3D printer could create a weapon capable of doing significant damage.

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