Abrasive Waterjet Machines: The Cutting Edge for Defense Manufacturing

OMAX abrasive waterjet cutting machines are particularly suited to the rigorous demands of defense manufacturing. Waterjet cutting machines easily cut a broad range of materials, and provide the flexibility and versatility needed to keep pace with the constantly changing requirements of the defense industry.

The expanding defense market
According to a recent Deloitte analysis, some $2.4 trillion in U.S. dollars is being spent on defense worldwide. In the U.S. for example, the 2025 Department of Defense budget is just shy of $852 billion, up from $841.4 billion in 2024. Increased budgets and advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) air mobility and unmanned systems, along with hard technology provide manufacturers many entry points into the defense sector, and waterjet cutting machinery is at the cutting edge of defense manufacturing.

Flexibility to meet constant change 
OMAX abrasive waterjet cutting machines can process virtually any material used in the defense industry.  Stainless steels, super alloys, Kevlar, composites and plastics, ballistic glass and more can all be processed in a wide range of thicknesses. Additionally, precision waterjet cutting does not cause thermal distortion or a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) that can negatively alter the properties of the material being cut. A waterjet cuts like a saw, processes external geometries for near net shape (NNS) production, cuts round parts like a lathe and square parts like a milling machine. Additionally, waterjet technology cuts complex parts like an electrical discharge machine (EDM) and slots like a broach. OMAX provides five lines of state-of-the-art abrasive waterjets to meet virtually any shop requirement.

Cutting a path to profitability
Unlike other machining technologies, waterjet cutting tools do not wear out. As a result, shop tooling inventory is reduced and downtime due to tool changeovers is eliminated resulting in faster, more cost-effective production and increased workflow. Defense manufacturers are also increasingly relying on NNS processing due to the demand for components made from expensive, difficult-to-machine materials that are extremely hard on cutting tools. Shops can complement their existing capabilities by adding waterjet cutting machinery to partner with defense contractors for NNS production of components blanks.

Keeping pace with innovation
Few industries change and innovate more than defense. The very nature of defense systems, hardware and infrastructure demands a forward looking and constantly evolving landscape. OMAX is the leading edge of waterjet cutting technology. From advanced control software to Industry 4.0 and the frontiers of autonomous robots, data analytics and cybersecurity, OMAX has the machines, technology and expertise to meet  tomorrow’s challenges today in defense manufacturing.