Firestorm

The defense tech landscape didn't always look like this. Just a few years ago, investing in national security startups was seen as impossible. Today, it's a movement. On Episode 9 of Drone Wars, we sit down with Thomas Hendrix Special Forces veteran and investor at Decisive Point, to talk about what's changed and what hasn't. One of our most honest, hard-hitting episodes yet. Episode drops tomorrow.

We’re thrilled to welcome Jeff Chen to the Firestorm team as our new Aeronautical Engineer – Advanced Projects!   He earned his bachelor’s in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his master’s at TU Delft, where he worked on a manned Flying V demonstrator. He previously interned at Boeing and NASA Glenn Research Center, contributing to the SUSAN program before joining Firestorm full-time in 2024.   At Firestorm, Jeff brings a unique blend of creative design and technical rigor to our most advanced programs.    He builds and codes his own tools to run performance and sizing analyses, helping us shape mission-ready aircraft from the ground up. Whether it's optimizing wing loading or tuning cruise speed, Jeff’s work helps push our systems to the edge of what's possible.   When asked to pick a favorite aircraft, Jeff couldn’t choose just one. From the elegant lineage of the Hawker Fury to the B-21, to the supersonic legends like the XB-70 and YF-12, Jeff sees every aircraft as a story worth telling.   Welcome to the team, Jeff! 

Last week, Leonid Capital Partners had a great time at the Dual-Use Salon in San Diego, hosted by Jay V. and the SoCal Deep Tech team. It was an inspiring evening where leaders from deep tech, venture capital, and national security came together to discuss how autonomous systems are transforming the future of defense. From maritime autonomy to tactical AI and drone deployment, the conversations were candid, insightful, and focused on tackling the challenges shaping defense innovation. Big shoutout to the incredible speakers who made the evening so impactful: Prad Parthiban from Newlab, Ellen M. Chang, Michael D. Brasseur from Saab, Inc., and Dan Magy 🏴☠️ from Firestorm. Your insights and perspectives on advancing autonomous systems were invaluable. A huge thank you to everyone involved who made the event possible: Owen Fileti (JLL), Travis DeMeester (Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Patrick Grilli (Fenwick & West), Samuel MacGregor, Reginald Walker IV, Claire Carloss (Leonid Capital Partners), Greg Singer (Stifel Bank), Drew W. (Alumni Ventures), UC San Diego Park & Market, Jay V. (SoCal Deep Tech), and Aero X Ventures. Already looking forward to the next one!

Silvus is proud to support Firestorm at PC-C5, a proving ground for cutting-edge technologies, enabling Joint and Multinational partners to explore how future warfighters will operate across dynamic battlespaces. "Silvus datalinks during the exercise ensured that we had a robust network to share FMV, POI data, and telemetry from multiple platforms - industry and military - and across great distances." Firestorm Co-Founder and CTO Ian Muceus. Together we're advancing the capabilities of the warfighter at the tactical edge. #PCC5 #ArmyModernization #DefenseInnovation #MIMO #MDO #StreamCaster #MANET

At McMillan Airfield, Firestorm Labs had set up its mobile expeditionary additive manufacturing station, xCell. Within its two 20-foot-long shipping container-like sections, equipment fabricated the airframe components of Firestorm’s Tempest, a modular Group 2 multi-mission UAS. “The idea for xCell came to fruition so that we could manufacture our drone at the edge in a contested logistics environment,” said Bill Buel, vice president of hardware at Firestorm. “But during development, we realized a much broader need for xCell as producer for spare parts and other drones. It doesn't even have to be our drones. So, we really embrace that.” The concept of flexibility continued to be exercised with Firestorm’s Tempest. It carries payloads of 10–20 pounds over ranges of 100–675 miles at speeds of 75–150 mph, depending on its variable configuration and plug-and-play engine—turbojet (high speed) or pusher prop (extended range). “We have taken an operator-first approach, and we want to empower the operator to make this truly modular,” Buel continued. Inside the xCell miniature factory, the interchangeable airframe components piled up—a nosecone with a camera port, fuselage segments for payloads, wing and tail segments. But outside, Chariot arrived on the scene ready to collaborate. A large, bulky generator ran both the printing and assembly sides of xCell. While the generator could power three to four xCells, the technologists understood that one xCell would require more power output for the complete drone-making operations than a single Chariot battery could provide. However, Chariot was still able to make a high-voltage connection to the assembly side and provide power to run some of its components. “We were able to power Firestorm's mobile manufacturing station off our battery, providing increased reliability, decreased fuel usage, and the ability to power it at the edge where it matters,” Warmoth added. https://lnkd.in/gFHTPwKy

Episode 8 is LIVE - Dive in now. This week on Drone Wars, we sit down with Nelson Mills, CEO & Co-Founder of Vatn Systems, to talk about the future of underwater autonomy — and why the subsea space is one of the most important and underdeveloped frontiers in modern warfare. From building electric boats to launching autonomous undersea drones in under 6 months, Nelson breaks down: - Why "one person per drone" thinking won't win the next fight - How his team is making underwater GPS denial a solvable problem - The secret to building advanced tech with zero cognitive overload Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/g8NRDZNW Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g8XwZygf Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gGaWmmVF

Firestorm's Group 2 #UAS’, Tempest’s, modular drone design sets a high standard. Expeditionary #additivemanufacturing via xCell’s field-deployable solution for manufacturing and on-demand repairs? That’s next-level #logistics capability for the warfighter and operational end user! Precision-engineered for austere environments, this isn’t just #innovation - it’s a strategic advantage. Big thanks to Sikorsky Innovations/Lockheed Martin and Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team for the opportunity to showcase both products at US Army's Project Convergence-Capstone 5. #fortirwin #drones

Rapid Sustainment, Redefined At Project Convergence-Capstone 5 (PC-C5), Firestorm’s xCell and Tempest mUAS successfully demonstrated expeditionary manufacturing that transforms battlefield logistics. Firestorm proved xCell is capable of providing fast and effective edge manufacturing support and operational sustainment - supporting field repairs and Army supply needs in contested environments. Key Outcomes: - Produced 3 Tempest B1 platforms for Lockheed Martin’s LTAD operations. - Repaired a crashed Tempest in 72 hours with xCell-printed parts. - Printed M777 Howitzer traverse assemblies for U.S.-UK joint efforts. - Responded to DEVCOM request to print ground sensor components, providing 10 systems the following morning. With rapid setup and modular design, Firestorm proved xCell enables forward sustainment at the edge, equipping warfighters where traditional supply lines fall short.

Karl Eze Part 2 – The Future of Drones, Regulations & Breaking Barriers Regulations aren’t just red tape—they can make or break innovation.  In Part 2 of our conversation with Karl Eze, we dive into the future of autonomous systems, regulatory battles, and how to push through obstacles to drive real change. We’re talking about:  - How regulatory frameworks can accelerate—or kill—drone innovation  - The momentum shift in European defense startups  - The next evolution of autonomous warfare and why we’re still in the “WWI of drones”  Listen now! Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gy_Chk6A Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gHdJwbsB Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gx52SWrT

Excited to share that I recently joined Firestorm as Chief of Staff ! Firestorm is developing modular, additively manufactured UAS that are faster and more cost-effective to build. But the vision goes beyond that. We've developed containerized manufacturing systems that can be deployed in hours, enabling defense forces to manufacture what they need, where they need it -- faster & cheaper. Looking forward to what’s ahead. Thanks for having me Dan, Chad, Ian, and the Firestorm team ! Let's build !