Firestorm Labs secures $82 million Series B to deploy mobile drone factories in the Indo-Pacific
Funding round, led by Washington Harbour Partners, targets rapid production of surveillance and electronic warfare systems within 24 hours of arrival at conflict zones.
Firestorm Labs, a San Diego-based defence startup, has announced the raising of $82 million in Series B funding to accelerate the development of xCell, a containerised manufacturing platform designed to produce drone systems in under 24 hours. The capital injection, which brings the company's total funding to $153 million, is set to advance industrial 3D printing capabilities that allow for the rapid deployment of surveillance and electronic warfare drones directly into conflict zones. This strategic move aims to address critical logistical vulnerabilities identified within the Indo-Pacific region, where supply lines are increasingly susceptible to attack.
The funding round was led by Washington Harbour Partners, with participation from a roster of prominent investors including NEA, Ondas, In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin, and Booz Allen Ventures. The capital will support the expansion of xCell, a technology that utilises industrial 3D printing to manufacture drone airframes on-site. By moving production closer to the front lines, Firestorm seeks to mitigate the risks associated with shipping parts across vast distances, a vulnerability highlighted by recent conflicts in Ukraine where fixed manufacturing sites have been targeted.
CEO Dan Magy confirmed that the xCell platforms are capable of supporting lethal operations, although the weapons themselves are not 3D-printed and are added separately to the manufactured airframes. The company holds a five-year global exclusive agreement with HP to utilise industrial 3D printing technology within its mobile deployment units. This partnership ensures the availability of the necessary hardware to print drone bodies and shells rapidly, a capability that has already been tested domestically with the US Air Force.
Current deployments of the technology include two xCell units operating within the United States: one with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, and another with the Air Force Special Operations Command in Florida. Beyond these domestic operations, Firestorm states that the platform is operational in the Indo-Pacific region, though specific unit locations have not been disclosed. The company aims to achieve full operational deployment of xCell across the region within the next two years.
The Air Force contract associated with the technology carries a ceiling of $100 million, with $27 million currently obligated. Firestorm generates revenue through both hardware sales and government contracts across all branches of the US military. The Pentagon has identified 'contested logistics'—the ability to keep weapons and supplies moving under fire—as one of only six national critical technology areas, underscoring the strategic importance of Firestorm's pivot from a traditional drone manufacturer to a mobile production entity.
