Firestorm Labs secures $82M to deploy mobile drone factories in the field

Firestorm Labs has raised $82 million in a Series B funding round to advance its vision of deployable drone manufacturing units that can operate directly in the field. In a Pacific conflict scenario, where the nearest U.S. drone production facility could be thousands of miles away, transporting parts by ship or aircraft would expose supply chains to potential attacks. Firestorm believes the solution lies in a compact drone factory that can fit inside a standard shipping container.

The funding round was led by Washington Harbour Partners, with participation from New Enterprise Associates, Ondas, In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Ventures, Geodesic Capital, Motley Fool Ventures, and others. This brings the company's total funding to $153 million.

Firestorm Labs did not initially set out to build mobile factories. The company began as a drone manufacturer, but customer demand for production capabilities closer to operational zones led its founders to shift direction and develop a new approach.

CEO Dan Magy, a repeat entrepreneur in the defence technology sector, leads the company alongside co-founders with specialised expertise. Chad McCoy brings experience as a special operations veteran, while CTO Ian Muceus holds numerous patents related to 3D printing technologies.

Based in San Diego, the startup has developed xCell, a containerised manufacturing platform capable of producing drone systems in under 24 hours. These drones are not limited to a single function; they can be adapted for various missions, including surveillance and electronic warfare, depending on operational needs.

Each xCell unit contains an industrial-grade 3D printer from HP that produces the drones' structural components, including the body and shell. Firestorm holds a five-year global exclusive agreement with HP to use its industrial 3D printing technology within mobile deployment platforms. According to the company, weapon systems are not produced via 3D printing and are instead integrated separately.

The platform has demonstrated additional utility beyond drone production. The U.S. Army has used xCell to manufacture replacement parts for a Bradley Fighting Vehicle directly on-site — components that would otherwise take months to obtain through traditional supply chains.

The challenge addressed by Firestorm extends beyond distance. Fixed manufacturing facilities can become strategic targets in conflict zones, a vulnerability highlighted during the war in Ukraine. Additionally, modern warfare evolves rapidly, with drone designs often changing within days rather than months, according to Magy.

Firestorm sees the Indo-Pacific region as a primary focus, where logistical complexities are particularly pronounced. The company aims to achieve full operational deployment of xCell units in the region within the next two years.

When asked about the systems' capabilities, Magy confirmed that the platforms can support lethal operations. However, all systems are delivered to official Department of Defence units, which deploy them in accordance with established military doctrine.

The broader defence landscape is also shifting in this direction. The Pentagon has identified contested logistics — the ability to sustain supply chains under hostile conditions — as one of six critical national technology priorities. Firestorm generates revenue through a combination of hardware sales and government contracts across multiple branches of the U.S. military. Its Air Force contract has a $100 million ceiling, though only $27 million has been allocated so far.

The technology is already being used in real-world scenarios. Two xCell units are currently deployed within the United States — one with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, and another with Air Force Special Operations Command in Florida. While the company has not disclosed specific users in the Indo-Pacific, it confirmed that the system is already operational in the region.