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Firestorm Labs Secures a Contract with US Air Force for its Tempest 50 Drones and Swarm Drone Projects.
California-based Firestorm Labs has been awarded a $100 million contract by the US Air Force for the development and delivery of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The project involves the integration of the company's flagship drones, associated support services, and research and development for various applications, aimed at enhancing military innovation and operational flexibility.
The Tempest 50 features a modular and open architecture design, allowing rapid adaptation to mission requirements, including integrating new sensors or propulsion systems (Picture source: Firestorm)
According to the Pentagon, the contract includes integrating the drones into AFWERX, the Air Force's innovation program based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The project will also support key initiatives such as the Adaptive Air Enterprise, Hale Cluster, and Babbage Flock, which utilize drone swarms for military and federal operations.
Additionally, the partnership will involve developing robotic and autonomous platforms for interoperable systems. These activities will be conducted in San Diego, with the project set to continue until December 2031.
At the center of this collaboration is the Tempest 50, Firestorm Labs' key drone system. This platform weighs less than 25 kilograms, has a fuselage length of 1.8 meters, and a wingspan of 2.1 meters. It is capable of carrying payloads of up to 4.5 kilograms, including standard equipment and explosives.
The Tempest 50 features a modular and open architecture design, allowing rapid adaptation to mission requirements, including integrating new sensors or propulsion systems. Its production costs are reportedly about one-fifth that of comparable fixed-wing systems, with manufacturing times ten times faster.
The Tempest 50 also incorporates advanced expeditionary manufacturing technologies, such as proprietary xCell 3D printing modules, enabling fast and localized production of drone components, even in conflict zones. With a mission endurance of up to 36 hours, the system is designed for various operational needs, including surveillance, cargo transport, and tactical support. The drone can be assembled and reconfigured in the field using a patent-pending quick-connect system and is transportable in a single-person portable hard case.
Firestorm Labs has experienced notable growth, bolstered by $12.5 million in seed funding last year from a consortium led by Lockheed Martin. This funding facilitated advancements in the company's expeditionary 3D manufacturing capabilities.
In a statement to the San Diego Business Journal, Firestorm's CEO Dan Magy shared plans to relocate operations from a 15,000-square-foot facility south of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to a 35,000-square-foot facility north of the same base.
In addition to the Tempest 50, Firestorm Labs is developing another unmanned aerial system, El Niño, which features a smaller airframe. This new platform reflects the company’s commitment to exploring technological solutions that meet the evolving demands of military operations.
This contract signifies the US Air Force's focus on leveraging innovative and cost-effective unmanned aerial systems to meet modern operational challenges. The collaboration is expected to advance drone technology while addressing critical military needs through modular and autonomous systems. With a timeline extending to 2031, this partnership underscores the strategic role of cutting-edge technologies in enhancing future military capabilities.