Kristen Smith
Booz Allen Ventures, Booz Allen Hamilton’s venture capital arm, has made a strategic investment in Firestorm Labs, a company that develops unmanned aerial systems using advanced additive manufacturing techniques.
In a press release published Wednesday, Booz Allen said Firestorm’s 3D-printed modular, open architecture UAS, designed for rapid deployment in the most resource-constrained operating environments, would enable the U.S. military to maintain its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region and other critical regions. Firestorm’s technology will deliver mission-critical tools directly to the battlefield, improving operational efficiency, Booz Allen added.
Shands Pickett, senior vice president of defense technology and strategy at Booz Allen, highlighted the need for the United States to reimagine defense manufacturing, with production speed as the priority, noting how adversaries weaponize inexpensive, commercial off-the-shelf systems.
“We invested in Firestorm Labs because we believe their effective, flexible, and low-cost unmanned aerial systems will help ensure the U.S. maintains the world’s strongest and most lethal warfighting force,” Pickett explained.
Firestorm’s xCell Platform — A Factory-in-a-Box
The investment will also support Firestorm’s xCell platform built with the capability to manufacture components and materials within hours on the battlefield.
“We created our xCell platform to reduce production time, costs, and logistical constraints, so that the U.S. has reliable, mission-specific tools at the ready to ensure operations are as efficient and effective as possible,” said Firestorm CEO Dan Magy.
According to the executive, the partnership with Booz Allen will allow Firestorm to meet the needs of warfighters at speed and scale.
With the latest investment, Booz Allen Ventures has now made 17 strategic investments using its $100 million fund.
