Advancing Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace and Defense Applications:
Raytheon, in collaboration with its sister business units Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney under RTX Corporation, is spearheading efforts to expand the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies across its product portfolio. While AM has traditionally been a cornerstone of rapid development and prototyping, Raytheon's latest initiatives aim to transition this technology into viable, scalable production solutions to address both technical and supply chain challenges. AM offers unparalleled flexibility, enabling rapid hardware development independent of legacy supply chains and rigid manufacturing methods. As aerospace and defense customers demand production rate increases of greater than 3 times current levels, the scalability of AM becomes a critical enabler.
At the heart of this transformation is the development and standardization of equipment, feedstock materials, build parameters, and process controls, alongside strong partnerships with OEMs and the manufacturing supply base. RTX is developing a framework called Q3+, designed to unify and standardize the qualification of AM equipment, processes, and materials. By collaborating with industry leaders, RTX is not only advancing internal capabilities but also contributing to the evolution of global standards and specifications. These efforts aim to elevate the industrial base and ensure the long-term success of AM as a transformative technology for aerospace and defense. This presentation will explore the technical advancements, challenges, and collaborative efforts driving the future of additive manufacturing at Raytheon.
