Firestorm

Firestorm had a fantastic time at the Indo-Pacific Irregular Warfare Conference in Hawaii! Our team, led by Dan, Chad & Dave, enjoyed the beautiful island setting while engaging in crucial discussions surrounding interoperability, maritime security, and the future of defense tech in the Indo-Pacific region. It was an honor to exchange ideas with industry leaders and military personnel on how Firestorm’s mission-adaptable aerial vehicles can contribute to the evolving defense landscape. We even found some time to soak in the Hawaiian sun! ☀

"The long pole in the tent with innovation... is not just dollars on contract, but the test and evaluation community. Unfortunately, there’s been very little treatment given to solving things like the availability of government ranges to test equipment." – Stephen Rodriguez In his recent interview at Nexus, Stephen Rodriguez, Founder of One Defense and Applied Intuition Defense Advisory Board member, highlighted a critical gap in defense innovation—the lack of adequate testing and evaluation infrastructure. As the defense tech landscape evolves, several key points stand out: - Testing environments for software-defined vehicles and advanced defense systems remain underdeveloped, limiting innovation. - DIU’s substantial funding needs a coherent strategy for effective deployment. - Data ownership in defense programs is a contentious issue that impacts collaboration and autonomy progress. - The focus on integrating software into legacy systems is crucial for enhancing military capabilities. Defense tech companies are increasingly using services revenue to support growth into software-driven solutions. At Firestorm, we are addressing these challenges by developing cutting-edge 3D-printed drones designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in modern warfare. https://lnkd.in/gE3eX-_y

Firestorm is excited to welcome Zack Freeman to the team! Zack joins Firestorm with a diverse background in mechanical and industrial design. Previously, Zack held roles at Magpul Industries Corp as a Product Design Engineer, where he contributed to both product design and engineering for injection-molded consumer goods, and at Swigro, where he designed custom robotics and large-format 3D printers. In his new role, Zack will contribute to Firestorm by leveraging his expertise in additive manufacturing to design innovative structures and mechanisms for our UAS, helping push the boundaries of aerospace engineering. Welcome to the team, Zack!

Firestorm welcomed Assistant Secretary for Industrial Base Policy Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale to HQ following the National Defense Industrial Association - (NDIA) Gold Coast Conference this week in San Diego. CEO Dan Magy was thrilled to showcase Firestorm’s cutting-edge facility and the expeditionary additive manufacturing unit xCell that enables the rapid production, modularity, and deployment of Tempest sUAS, at the point of need. A fantastic discussion around accelerating the deployment of manufacturing at the edge so that U.S. and partner forces may prepare and sustain access to capabilities in a contested environment — not to mention forge a powerful technical workforce, across the nation, in the process. That preparation must start now, not amid conflict. Firestorm was honored to welcome and collaborate with the team of Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment on advancing this mission set. Firestorm Labs thanks Julie Loiland, Scott Jones with OUSD A&S IBP and Mary Monica Palmer with M2 Defense Strategies.

Firestorm is excited to welcome Thomas Offenbecher as our newest Electrical Engineer! With a deep passion for RF systems, power electronics, and communication systems, Thomas brings invaluable expertise from his roles at ENGIN-IC and SpaceX. His knowledge in embedded systems programming, software-defined radio (SDR), and digital signal processing (DSP) will be instrumental in optimizing Firestorm’s UAVs. Thomas will be focusing on enhancing our electrical systems, ensuring our drones maintain superior performance in the field with cutting-edge power and communication solutions. Welcome aboard, Thomas!

Cofounder Chad McCoy is entering the fray of LinkedIn articles on how we use technology and is committed to open-sourced HW/SW architecture to tackle the changing nature of warfare.

Chad McCoy on Fully Autonomous Warfare: "We aren't there yet—but I actually think this could be a safer way to conduct warfare in the future." We’re excited to announce that Chad McCoy, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Firestorm, was featured on The Team House podcast. In the episode titled "Game of Drones: The Future of Warfare," Chad dives deep into the future of autonomous drones and shares how this evolving technology could redefine warfare both in the US and abroad, potentially making it safer through precision and automation. Catch the full episode for Chad's insights into the future of defense tech. https://lnkd.in/gUmVURaw

We’re excited to share that our very own Dan Magy was featured on the latest episode of Crossing the Valley. Dan and Benjamin Kohlmann dive deep into what it takes to build the future of defense tech: Adaptability and Mission Readiness: True innovation means more than just a new coat of paint. It's about flexibility, adaptability, and making sure our systems can evolve with the fight. Crafting a Winning Narrative: In defense, it's not just about the product—it's about the narrative. A strong story drives change and creates momentum. Navigating the Innovation Landscape: From building relationships to winning programs, Dan and Benjamin discuss what it really takes to succeed in this space. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts and if you find value, share it with someone who would benefit from these insights. https://lnkd.in/gc-EVVrD

Firestorm is thrilled to welcome Sam Gillam to the team! Sam joins us as a subject matter expert on tactical mobile applications, bringing his extensive experience in software development to the team. Previously, Sam was a Software Engineer at Teledyne FLIR, where he worked on a variety of UAV systems, most notably the Rogue 1. Before that he was a Software Developer Intern at Scientific Systems, where he contributed to the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. We’re excited to have Sam’s mobile and computer applications expertise to the team as we continue to work to bring the best technologies to the warfighter. Welcome to the team, Sam!

"We realized the potential to democratize the sky with modular drones." In a recent webinar hosted by IronGate Capital Advisors, co-founder Dan Magy shared how Firestorm was inspired by the effective use of COTS drones in modern conflicts. Dan explains how Firestorm builds a versatile fleet of drones, including our Tempest models, and has containerized its manufacturing with xCell. xCell is a semi-automated, expeditionary manufacturing cell that operates with limited human engagement and can be powered off-the-grid. This innovation allows us to set up factories globally within 24 hours, enabling rapid production of Firestorm vehicles. Watch the clip to learn more about our mission to revolutionize defense technology!