Military drone manufacturer Firestorm Labs has raised $47 million in Series A funding. Led by U.S. venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA), the round included investments from key defense backers such as Lockheed Martin Ventures, Decisive Point, Washington Harbour Partners, Booz Allen Ventures, and others. The total also includes $12 million in venture debt from U.S.-based financial firm J.P. Morgan.
This latest round builds on Firestorm’s $12.5 million seed funding and reflects growing confidence in the company’s rapid rise and success with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracts.
The funds will help Firestorm scale its additive manufacturing platform by expanding its engineering team, opening a larger production facility, and strengthening partnerships. The new capital will also accelerate on-site manufacturing of flexible, cost-effective unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and other essential platforms to support the evolving operational requirements of U.S. and allied military forces.
“One of the most pressing constraints to our military’s readiness and operational reach is our manufacturing capacity. Firestorm is filling that void by providing critical additive manufacturing capabilities that will contribute to the entire defense ecosystem, from the front line to the industrial base. Washington Harbour Partners is proud to back Firestorm,” said Mina Faltas, founder and chief investment officer of Washington Harbour Partners.
Scaling xCell and On-Site Drone Production
Aligned with Executive Order 14307, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” Firestorm will ramp up production of xCell—its mobile, containerized micro-factory designed to produce modular airframes and components directly at the point of need. This “factory-in-a-box” allows frontline units to build and reconfigure drones in contested environments, eliminating the need for centralized facilities or long logistics chains.
Firestorm explained that the xCell platform allows operators to manufacture a full Tempest UAS directly in the field and adapt it for ISR, electronic warfare, or strike operations, ensuring versatile mission capability wherever deployed.
“We’re thrilled about this milestone, because it empowers Firestorm to deliver critical, battlefield-ready solutions faster and at scale,” said Dan Magy, CEO of Firestorm. “Our unique ability to 3D print modular airframes on-site dramatically reduces production timelines, costs, and logistical constraints, giving the U.S. and allied forces the adaptive technology they urgently need in complex and contested operational environments.”
Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, highlighted the vital importance of reliable technology for the U.S. military. “Deployable, on-site 3D drone printing is a powerful tool that further extends the warfighter’s ability to secure the battlespace, while advancing U.S. leadership on the frontiers of defense technologies.”
Firestorm announced it will also use the funding to expand its modularity suite, integrating onboard computing, tactical software, mission planning, and developer tools into a cohesive, plug-and-play system. Unlike rigid lab prototypes, this solution is designed for real-world deployment—autonomous, adaptable, GPS-independent, and free of vendor lock-in.
Additive Manufacturing Expands Defense Capabilities
Cummings Aerospace, an Alabama-based aerospace and defense manufacturer, recently completed flight trials for a new 3D printed turbojet loitering munition named Hellhound S3. This lightweight kamikaze-style drone, including its launch canister and ground control system, weighs less than 25 pounds. It is engineered for deployment by a single soldier and designed to execute rapid, precise strikes on armored targets. During testing at the Pendleton Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Range in Oregon, the drone reached speeds over 350 miles per hour at half throttle and demonstrated reliable performance in cold, windy, and snowy environments.
Ursa Major, a Colorado-based propulsion company, recently completed successful flight tests of a new 3D printed solid rocket motor (SRM) developed in partnership with Virginia-based Raytheon Technologies. The test at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake showcased the long-range missile capabilities of the 3D printed SRM, manufactured using Ursa Major’s Lynx AM technology. This approach enables the simultaneous production of multiple SRMs on a single production line, lowering costs and speeding up development cycles.
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Featured image shows Firestorm Labs’ Tempest drone. Image via Firestorm Labs.
