3D printing pioneers revolutionizing Ukraine's defense efforts
The full-scale war in Ukraine is entering its fourth year, and it's worth mentioning that many units still largely rely on the work of volunteer groups using the latest 3D printing technology. One of these groups is WildBees, which has delivered over 3 million various military items to Ukrainian soldiers. We provide a behind-the-scenes look at their work and some of their products.
Volunteer groups supporting the Ukrainian fighters are not new. The oldest were formed during the conflicts with Russian "little green men" in early 2014-2015. These groups provided what the Ukrainian army could not supply, for various reasons.
Widespread, large-scale assistance began after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. One of the people who joined this volunteer movement is Eman, who coordinates aid for the Polish group WildBees. WildBees regularly organizes fundraisers for equipment for Ukrainian soldiers.
In a conversation with WP Tech, he notes that from his perspective, the enthusiasm for helping ended already in 2022, yet the needs have not decreased. In three years of operation, the WildBees group delivered over 3 million components and several hundred 3D printers to Ukraine.
3D printers are a huge support for Ukraine
3D printers have become a favorite among hobbyists because they allow for the quick and inexpensive creation of almost any needed element. Companies also use printers to create prototypes readily. The most popular are printers for creating polymer parts, but solutions for printing metal components have also appeared in recent years.
Entities like the US Army closely examine 3D printers for military applications. Groups like the rebels in Myanmar (Burma), who rely on projects like the FGC-9 weapon, also use 3D printers. It's no surprise that 3D printing is also used to support Ukrainian soldiers.
The WildBees group produces many components, and interesting projects appear daily. Eman admitted that thousands of different models have passed through their printers, including printed components for the FGM-148 Javelin and HMMWV.
In war, flight stabilizers are commonly seen. When added to regular grenades or 30/40 mm calibers, they ensure that a grenade dropped from a drone has an improved flight trajectory, positively affecting accuracy. Another group is polymer shells, which, after adding shrapnel and explosive material with a fuse, serve as replacements for mortar rounds often previously used as bombs for drones.
This, however, is just a small part of the military equipment portfolio produced for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The larger part is classified.
The aid from WildBees goes beyond just stabilizers and shells for grenades
However, this is not the end, as the WildBees group also produces many non-kinetic accessories. The first were trench periscopes, which proved their worth during World War I. They allow soldiers to observe the situation and adjust fire from a grenade launcher (or mortar) without risking exposure, which is extremely valuable in the age of snipers with thermal vision and artillery fire. WildBees has sent tens of thousands to Ukraine and has received numerous testimonials that they have saved the lives of many soldiers.
Another highly valued gadget is magazine loaders, which allow soldiers to quickly load loose rounds kept in pockets, cartons, or boxes in a trench. Considering the intensity of Russian assaults, the standard issue of four or eight magazines for a rifle does not last long.
Loading them under stress by a fatigued soldier is more complex than it seems, and such a loader is a huge help. Especially when it's necessary to do so with gloves in freezing temperatures. Moreover, loading, for instance, 10 magazines in a row causes finger pain for soldiers.
As "Eman" recalls, "the original design was 'borrowed' from a Russian group on Telegram, and colleagues from WildBees USA redesigned it and sent it to the front. Within a week, we received the response: 'We need them!'. Since then (December 2023), we have sent tens of thousands of loaders, and the models have been improved based on feedback sent from the front by soldiers.
The third category is equipment for demining, marking mines, or models used in schools or sapper courses in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the latter category, the WildBees Sweden group, supported by the Safe Pro AI/Demining Research Community, is particularly active. "Eman" also mentioned a new project, "Mine Markers," aimed at developing and producing equipment for marking mines, with the first batch of prototypes already sent to the AFU. Mines are common in Ukraine, and disarming them is an extremely dangerous task where any tools minimizing the risk of explosion are extremely valuable.
Additionally, the WildBees group produces, based on 3D printing, readily available and inexpensive components for pocket drone detector housings, as well as release mechanisms for them.
I also asked Emanuel what he would like to say to those doubting the sense or critics of helping Ukraine based on his personal experience.
