# Air Force seeks 3D concrete printers for protective structures, Defense News reports The service wants mobile printers that lightly trained personnel can operate in austere conditions. Its small-business research solicitation closes in January 2027, Defense News reports. Published 2026-11-04 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/04/air-force-seeks-3d-concrete-printers-for-protective-structures/ The Air Force is seeking mobile 3D concrete printers to help military engineers rapidly build protective structures, Defense News reported Nov. 4.[1] Its Small Business Innovation Research solicitation is a direct-to-Phase II project and closes in January 2027.[1] The development challenge combines protection with practical field use.[1] Defense News tied the effort to Iranian attacks that damaged hundreds of U.S. military buildings across eight Middle Eastern countries, citing a September 2026 inspector general report.[1] The Air Force is concerned that existing concrete-printing technology is not yet ready to produce structures that survive missile and drone bombardment.[1] The service wants equipment that lightly trained military personnel can operate in austere conditions, with a goal of reducing skilled labor and using locally available cementitious materials where feasible.[1] The project will assess cement-like materials for qualities including strength and adhesion, as well as the availability of local components.[1] ## Why it matters Defense News reported that the project will develop new construction geometries intended to improve survivability beyond conventional flat-wall construction.[1] The shapes are intended to reduce blast reflection, limit pressure amplification, interrupt fragmentation paths and improve protection for occupants.[1] ## Sources 1. Defense News: Under threat of air strikes, US looks to bolster base infrastructure with 3D printing