AEVEX and Divergent Build 3D-Printed Drones for US Defense

Defense Drones Get a 3D Printing Speed Boost

AEVEX Aerospace is partnering with Divergent Technologies to speed up production of autonomous drones using additive manufacturing. The collaboration pairs AEVEX's operational experience with fielded unmanned aircraft and Divergent's 3D-printed metal structures.

Divergent's approach builds drone frames from 3D-printed metal nodes and composite tubes, cutting part count and assembly time compared to traditional CNC-machined airframes. The method also reduces weight, which matters for endurance and payload capacity.

The partnership comes as the Pentagon pushes for faster domestic drone production. US defense officials want more suppliers who can scale quickly without waiting for foreign-made components. 3D printing offers a way to build airframes in lower volumes without the tooling costs of conventional manufacturing.

No production volumes or timelines were announced. The companies said they will focus first on specific drone classes used for surveillance and logistics, then expand to larger platforms if the initial work succeeds.