Firestorm Awarded PY25.1 STRATFI Funding to Advance Modular Unmanned Aerial Systems

SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Firestorm Labs, the leader in modular, additively manufactured unmanned aerial systems (UAS), was recently selected for STRATFI PY25.1 award to scale production and deployment of software-driven, battlefield-adaptive UAS. Administered by AFVentures, STRATFI accelerates cutting-edge defense technology from prototype to full-scale deployment. This funding fuels Firestorm's rapid expansion of 3D-printed modular UAS (mUAS), Air Launched Effects (ALE), and its Expeditionary Additive Manufacturing system (xCell)—the solution to contested logistics and supply chain vulnerabilities.

xCell: Warfighters Print What They Need, When They Need It

Traditional supply chains fail in high-intensity conflicts. Firestorm's xCell eliminates that risk by enabling warfighters to 3D-print drones, replacement parts, and mission-configured payloads directly in the field—cutting dependence on centralized factories and vulnerable supply lines.

"xCell is built for the realities of modern warfare, where sustainment must happen at the edge," said Chad McCoy, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Firestorm. "We're giving warfighters the ability to manufacture mission-ready drones in hours, not weeks."

Tempest: 10X Faster, 80% Cheaper, and Ready for Any Mission

Firestorm's Tempest UAS, built for expeditionary manufacturing, can be produced 10X faster and at one-fifth the cost of legacy drones—enabling rapid force regeneration, scalable production, and unmatched operational flexibility. Its modular, software-driven design allows warfighters to swap ISR, electronic warfare, and kinetic strike payloads in minutes—not months.

"We're building our solutions as flying software platforms—systems that evolve as fast as the fight," said Dan Magy, Founder and CEO of Firestorm. "With software-driven autonomy and modular payloads, our drones adapt to emerging threats in real time."

Airborne Adaptive Enterprise (A2E): A Lethal CLT-Variant for Air Launched Effects (ALE)

Firestorm A2E UAS, a Common Launch Tube (CLT) variant of Tempest, is designed for Air Launched Effects (ALE). It deploys from rotary-wing aircraft, fixed-wing platforms, and ground-based launchers, delivering ISR, electronic attack, and kinetic effects in contested airspace. As the Army expands its ALE portfolio, this variant offers a high-performance, attritable option that integrates seamlessly into Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) frameworks.

Firestorm Accelerates Deployment with STRATFI Investment

With this STRATFI-backed contract, Firestorm will:

• Scale production to support deployments and military exercises.
• Expand xCell field integration, enabling in-field manufacturing of mission-ready drones.
• Enhance software-driven autonomy, optimizing swarm coordination and real-time battlefield adaptability.
• Accelerate field testing and operational deployment, ensuring seamless integration with Joint Force networks.

"This STRATFI award accelerates our mission to deliver affordable, adaptable, and rapidly deployable drones to U.S. forces," said Dan Magy, Founder and CEO of Firestorm. "We are closing the gap between prototype and warfighter-ready systems, ensuring next-generation UAS are mission-ready when and where they are needed most."

Firestorm exemplifies the Department of Defense's initiative for rapid capability fielding, reducing years from traditional acquisition cycles. With STRATFI, Firestorm is positioned to deliver scalable, attritable, and rapidly adaptable UAS to support warfighters in the most demanding operational environments.

For more information, visit www.launchfirestorm.com.

About Firestorm Labs: Firestorm Labs is a leader in expeditionary additive manufacturing, specializing in modular, open architecture unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for modern warfare. Their 3D-printed UAS enable in-theater production, autonomous operations, and rapid reconfiguration, redefining defense technology. Firestorm's platforms provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and kinetic capabilities at unmatched speed and scale—ensuring warfighters get the tools they need, when and where they need them.

About AFVentures STRATFI: The AFVentures Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program accelerates the transition of emerging technologies into operational use, providing critical funding to scale innovative small-business solutions for the DoD. STRATFI investments support warfighter modernization and the rapid fielding of disruptive defense technologies.

SOURCE Firestorm Labs, Inc