Firestorm Labs 3D-prints drones aboard USS Essex during RIMPAC transit

Published Aug 5, 11:14 PM UTC

Firestorm Labs successfully manufactured 12 Squall first-person view drones and over 1,000 parts aboard the USS Essex using its containerized xCell microfactory while the ship transited toward RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii. The 3D-printed drones were later flown as adversary aircraft during a counter-drone exercise at RIMPAC. The demonstration highlights the Navy's push for containerized, modular capabilities that reduce reliance on shore resupply. Service members also printed mechanical test components and military repair parts during the voyage, which faced 12-foot waves. The effort aligns with the Navy's 'containerized capability campaign plan' announced by CNO Adm. Daryl Caudle and the Pentagon's Low-Cost Containerized Munitions program, which aims to acquire over 10,000 containerized missiles starting in 2027.