In this episode of The Startup Defense, Callye Keen sits down with Dan Magy, exited founder and CEO of Firestorm, to explore the future of UAVs, the reindustrialization of America, and the challenges of defense innovation. They dive into the evolving role of drones in modern warfare, the barriers faced by smaller defense companies, and how Firestorm is revolutionizing manufacturing at scale for defense technologies.

Topics Discussed:

[0:00] Introducing Dan Magy
Callye introduces Dan Magy, discussing his background in drones and counter-UAV technologies.

[0:55] The Changing Face of Warfare
Dan highlights how modern warfare and drone use have drastically evolved, with drones now serving as critical tools on the battlefield.

[3:34] Reindustrializing America
They explore how companies like Firestorm are helping to drive the reindustrialization of the U.S. through innovative, in-field manufacturing solutions.

[7:10] Challenges in U.S. Drone Manufacturing
Dan talks about the high cost, long lead times, and inefficiencies in current defense manufacturing, contrasting it with Firestorm’s agile approach.

[11:25] Risk and Innovation in Defense
The conversation turns to how the Department of Defense is risk-averse and the hurdles small companies face in getting contracts and scaling innovations.

Key Takeaways:

The Future of UAVs is About Resupply - Dan emphasizes that the real challenge in drone warfare is resupplying at scale, which Firestorm addresses through in-field manufacturing capabilities.
Small Businesses Drive Defense Innovation - Unlike traditional defense contractors, smaller startups like Firestorm are more agile and take risks to develop cost-effective solutions quickly.
The U.S. Faces a Manufacturing Gap - There’s an urgent need to reinvigorate America’s manufacturing capabilities to meet the demand for defense technologies, a gap Firestorm is helping to fill.

Quotes:

"Drones today are essentially flying IEDs, and we need to rethink how we build, supply, and use them." – Dan Magy
"Resupply and in-field manufacturing are critical to making UAVs truly attritable in modern warfare." – Callye Keen

About Guest:

Dan Magy is the CEO of Firestorm, a company focused on developing multi-mission drones and revolutionizing defense manufacturing through 3D printing. With a background in both destroying and manufacturing UAVs, Dan brings a unique perspective to the challenges of defense technology and risk management. Learn more about Firestorm at Firestorm.

Resources Mentioned:

Julia Gets Wise with Roz Chast

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Collaboration and Surprise Projects

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