{
  "id": 1570986,
  "title": "World's largest 3D printing facility builds drone boats using robotic arms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/worlds-largest-3d-printing-facility-builds-drone-boats-using-robotic",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-17T21:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/worlds-largest-3d-printing-facility-builds-drone-boats-using-robotic-arms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Haddy, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based digital manufacturing company, has produced its largest 3D printing facility to date, constructing a military drone boat using robotic arm-assisted large-format printers. The vessel, named the TF-179 Drone Boat, was completed within nine days, a process that previously yielded a carbon-fiber-reinforced hull in the same timeframe for HavocAI. The 30,000 square foot facility houses eight CEAD printing systems, each capable of producing large pieces without seams. Haddy's shift toward defense manufacturing began in 2022, and the rapid build process has been met with increasing demand for small, expendable maritime drones within the U.S. defense industry. The company has partnered with Blue Ops, the maritime drone division of Red Cat Holdings, to boost production capacity for uncrewed surface vessels. This trend toward faster, cheaper naval hardware has been influenced by lessons learned from Ukraine's war against Russia in the Black Sea, where inexpensive, remotely piloted drone boats have caused significant damage to Russian warships. The company's approach, relying on robotic additive manufacturing, allows for quick adjustments to vessel designs and production, contrasting sharply with the lengthy timelines of traditional shipbuilding.",
  "summary": "Florida manufacturer Haddy has used robotic 3D printing to produce a military drone boat, building on earlier rapid unmanned vessel projects.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}