Firestorm

Firestorm Labs, Inc. is a San Diego-based defense manufacturing company that develops expeditionary, point-of-need production systems for unmanned aircraft. Its core product, xCell, is a containerized "factory-in-a-box" built around an industrial-grade HP 3D printer that prints drone airframes and shells, mission-specific payloads and replacement components in the field, with drone systems printable in under 24 hours. Aircraft produced through the platform, including the Tempest and El Niño UAVs, use an open-architecture, modular design that can be reconfigured for ISR, electronic warfare or strike missions; weapons themselves are not printed and are integrated separately. The company also offers a modularity suite combining an onboard computer, tactical software, developer tools and mission planning, and states its systems operate without reliance on GPS or communications links.

The company began as a drone manufacturer and pivoted toward field-deployable manufacturing after customers asked for production closer to the front lines. Two xCell units are deployed domestically, one with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, and one with Air Force Special Operations Command in Florida, and the company says the platform is also operational in the Indo-Pacific, which it identifies as its primary theater of focus. The Army has used xCell to print on-site replacement parts for a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. All platforms are delivered to uniformed Department of Defense operational commands.

Founding story

Dan Magy co-founded Firestorm and serves as CEO; he is a San Diego native and serial defense entrepreneur who previously founded Citadel Defense, acquired by Blue Halo, and co-founded Elevate Dynamics, and studied at the London School of Economics and UCLA. Co-founder Chad McCoy, a career special operations veteran, is Chief Strategy Officer, and co-founder Ian Muceus, who holds over a dozen 3D-printing patents, is Chief Technology Officer.

Business model

Firestorm sells hardware and delivers work under government contracts across all branches of the U.S. military, including a U.S. Air Force agreement for unmanned aerial systems development with a $100 million ceiling over five years, of which $27 million had been obligated as of April 2026. It has also received more than $3 million in federally funded contracts. A partnership program broadens distribution, and the company holds a five-year global exclusive with HP covering use of HP industrial 3D printing technology in mobile deployment units.

Revenue comes from hardware sales and U.S. government contracts spanning the military services.

Traction

As of July 2025 the company reported about 60 employees in San Diego and roughly 80 in total, with plans to hire up to 50 more across engineering, design and business development, and it had secured multiple DoD contracts including more than $3 million in federally funded awards and an Air Force agreement worth up to $100 million over five years. By April 2026 total funding reached $153 million, $27 million of the Air Force ceiling had been obligated, and two xCell units were deployed domestically with additional operations in the Indo-Pacific.

Latest developments

In April 2026 Firestorm announced an $82 million Series B led by Washington Harbour Partners with NEA, Ondas, In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Ventures, Geodesic and Motley Fool Ventures participating, lifting total funding to $153 million. The company said two xCell units were deployed domestically, that the platform was operational in the Indo-Pacific, and that it aims for full operational deployment in that region ideally within two years.