Ep. 57: A Navy SEAL Reveals What Ukraine Taught Us About Drone Warfare

Fortem Technologies - From Radar Innovation to Counter-UAS Leader

About Jon Gruen

Jon brings a unique combination of operational experience and defense industry knowledge to his role as CEO of Fortem Technologies. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he served 10 years on active duty as a Navy SEAL, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

His transition to the private sector began in 2007 when he joined the Navy Reserve while simultaneously building his commercial career. He spent 11 years at Lockheed Martin learning acquisition processes and big program management, while concurrently commanding unmanned aerial system units in the reserves for four years. This dual perspective gave him front-row seats to both the traditional defense contracting world and the emerging defense innovation ecosystem.

Before joining Fortem, Gruen worked as an operational consultant helping multiple aerospace and defense startups navigate the valley of death. He took the helm at Fortem in 2022.

About Fortem Technologies

Founded in 2016 by Adam Robertson, Fortem Technologies began as a radar company leveraging Robertson's decades of experience developing military radars, particularly for IED detection during the Wars on Terror. Robertson's breakthrough was creating an architecture that enabled very low size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) radar systems.

The company's evolution accelerated when DARPA recognized the potential of their small radar technology and suggested mounting it on drones in 2018. This led to Fortem developing comprehensive counter-UAS solutions spanning the entire detect-to-mitigate spectrum:

* Ground-based and airborne radars with edge computing and AI

* Command and control software integrating multiple sensors

* A family of counter-UAS drones using various effectors (nets, explosives, future high-powered microwave)

* Man-portable systems that fit in commercial trucks for tactical mobility

Fortem has been operationally deployed in Ukraine for over three years, working with border guards and other units while providing real-time intelligence on electronic warfare environments to U.S. government agencies. They've also developed significant homeland security capabilities, becoming the only approved kinetic solution for safely removing drone threats in the continental United States.

For more on Fortem: fortemtech.com

For more Crossing the Valley: valleycrossers.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.valleycrossers.com