Firestorm

Firestorm is excited to welcome Andrew Hill to the team! Andrew joins us as an Electrical Engineering Technician, bringing a diverse background that includes retail management and co-founding 501(c)(3) non-profits. He completed his Master of Public Administration at San Diego State's School of Professional Studies and Fine Arts in 2021. At Firestorm, Andrew will be responsible for building and maintaining the avionics systems for our fleet, managing the EE lab space, and supporting various projects across the organization. His daily work includes assembling avionics packages, performing electrical validation and quality control, and calibrating onboard sensors before handing them off to the manufacturing and flight test teams. Born and raised in San Diego, Andrew enjoys reading, watching all kinds of visual media, and traveling in his free time. Welcome aboard, Andrew! We’re excited to have your skills and passion contributing to our mission!

We had a special visitor at the Firestorm global HQ this week. David Trulio, President and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, came by the factory and got a behind the scenes tour of how we’re using additive manufacturing to deliver multi-mission attritible mass. It’s always a treat when we get to show people how we’re working hard to push the boundaries and bring new technology to the war fighter!

Firestorm recently participated in Northern Strike 24-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, designed to enhance interoperability and readiness across allied forces. Held from August 3-17 at Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) which encompasses Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, and their combined ranges and airspace, this exercise featured approximately 6,300 participants. Here are the highlights of our demonstrations: Autonomous Operations: Our Tempest drone executed autonomous missions demonstrating capabilities similar to fast-moving, flying-wing Shahed variants (-141, -161, -181, and -191) and providing an option to test our air defenses, as an adversarial, red-team asset and / or low-cost target drone. Operational Resilience: During flight tests, we adapted to complex environments by conducting operations in areas with narrow clearances, rough runways, and dense vegetation, which offered critical lessons on mission planning and safety procedures for future missions. Northern Strike offered valuable insights into refining mission planning operations across diverse environments, as well as additional use cases for the Tempest mission-adaptable UAS. This event continues to underscore Firestorm’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of autonomous drone technology while contributing to the readiness of the Joint Force. A big thanks to LTC Snook, 1LT Burgess, and many others for their engagement and assistance at the event!

Firestorm is excited to welcome Daniel Lau to the team! Daniel joins us as a Senior Software Engineer – Network and Communications, bringing extensive experience from MatrixSpace, where he worked on meshed radar network products, and Northeastern University’s FFRDC, where he conducted critical counter-UAS research. At Firestorm, Daniel will be developing software that enhances the modularity of communications solutions. His work will streamline operator experience by automating radio configurations both on the ground station and the drone, allowing for more efficient, time-saving operations. Daniel is passionate about innovation and ensuring seamless communication for operators in the field. Welcome aboard, Daniel! We’re thrilled to have your expertise driving forward our mission!

Our neighbors are getting noisy!

Imagine this: a rugged, contested environment, miles away from the nearest base, and your mission needs a UAV....right now. 👇 Enter Firestorm Labs. Instead of waiting days on a distant supply chain, you fire up Firestorm’s Expeditionary Manufacturing Cell (xCell). Within hours, your drone is ready to take off—custom-built to meet your immediate operational needs. That’s the power of Firestorm. They’re democratizing the skies by bringing rapid, on-demand drone manufacturing to the front lines. Their 3D-printed drones are game-changers—affordable, modular, and scalable for any mission. Firestorm’s tech allows Warfighters to tailor these drones in real-time, optimizing for size, payload, or endurance. It’s no longer about using the same off-the-shelf equipment; now, you can customize your assets for the mission at hand. It's time we reshaped logistics for the battlefield, moving from reactive to proactive. And it’s happening today, in real-time. At Harpoon Ventures, we back the bold. Firestorm’s commitment to breaking the mold, to democratizing the air, resonates deeply with us and that's why we invested. They’ve taken the dream of edge manufacturing and made it a reality, empowering the people who need it most—those in the field, under fire, or on the move. The battlefield has changed forever. With Firestorm, every mission becomes a mission you’re ready for. And at Harpoon, we’re proud to be part of that future. ⇀

The U.S. Army is revolutionizing battlefield ops with AI. Their new "Shrike" app cuts target acquisition time from 15 minutes to under 60 seconds, mirroring Firestorm's focus on rapid-response capabilities in our Tempest mUAS. Key points: AI-enabled drones identify camouflaged vehicles - Firestorm's Tempest offers similar adaptability for ISR and EW missions. Instant fire mission generation and battle damage assessment - Our modular approach allows quick mission transitions. Soldier-driven innovations like electronic decoys align with Firestorm's "Lego building block" design philosophy. As the Army advances through its "Transformation in Contact" program, Firestorm remains committed to developing complementary, low-cost, and rapidly deployable autonomous systems. Our xCell manufacturing units exemplify this dedication to keeping pace with evolving battlefield needs. https://lnkd.in/gTCdBCMm

Autonomous tech isn't just changing the game—it's creating an entirely new playing field. But what's really happening behind the scenes? Introducing "Drone Wars," a new podcast that takes you inside the rapidly evolving realm of autonomy. Hosted by Firestorm CEO Dan Magy, each 15-20 minute episode offers: - Exclusive insights from industry titans - A glimpse into groundbreaking innovations across air, land, and sea - Candid discussions on the ethical challenges and future implications From AI-driven combat drones to self-driving cars, "Drone Wars" decodes the technologies shaping our future. Are we ready for a world where machines make life-altering decisions? Tune in to find out. https://lnkd.in/gxPi-Tyu Sign up here to learn more! www.dronewarspod.com

Firestorm is excited to welcome Clint Lentz to the team! Clint Lentz joins Firestorm with a distinguished background in the Air Force, where he served as a Pararescueman for over 15 years. Deploying numerous times to multiple theatres, as both a Rescue and Special Tactics PJ, he brings years of operational experience to our team. At Firestorm, Clint will be expanding partnerships with Air Force entities to build awareness and develop end-user requirements, with the goal of driving sales. Originally from Montana, Clint now calls North Carolina home. When not working, he enjoys playing drums in a metal tribute band and cheering for the San Francisco 49ers. Welcome aboard, Clint! We're thrilled to have your expertise on our team!

Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti has unveiled Project 33, an ambitious plan to integrate robotic and autonomous systems across the fleet by 2027 to counter potential threats, including a focus on China. Key Takeaways: Project 33 aims to expand the Navy’s hybrid fleet with autonomous capabilities and enhance information dominance to ensure decision-making superiority in combat. These systems will provide increased warfighting capacity while keeping personnel out of harm’s way. By 2027, autonomous platforms will be integrated into all major fleet operations, prioritizing critical mission areas like surveillance, fires, and logistics. Project 33 highlights the future role of technology in enhancing U.S. naval capabilities for modern warfare. https://lnkd.in/e9tKHWA2