Firehawk Aerospace, a leading defense technology company focused on advanced energetics and propulsion, has recently secured a significant investment from Presto Tech Horizons (PTH). PTH is a unique defense and resilience technology fund established through a collaboration between the European venture capital firm Presto Ventures and the global industrial and technology conglomerate CSG (Czechoslovak Group). This investment is part of an oversubscribed $60 million funding round, spearheaded by 1789 Capital, a firm with partners that include Donald Trump Jr. Other notable participants in this round include Draper Associates, Decisive Point, Stellar Ventures, and several other prominent venture capital firms.
As the sole European investor, Presto Tech Horizons plays a crucial role in bringing Firehawk’s energetics technology closer to allied defense users across the European continent, strengthening international partnerships and capabilities.
Firehawk Aerospace is at the forefront of a revolutionary change in how propellant and solid rocket motors are produced. They are pioneering the world’s first scalable application of 3D printing for these critical components. This innovative approach promises to enable faster, safer, and more flexible production of advanced energy sources. The very same advancements in propellant design and manufacturing that lead to more efficient rocket motors can also be applied to artillery charges. This opens up exciting possibilities for rapid, reliable, and scalable ammunition production, addressing a critical need in modern defense.
The traditional method of producing rocket engine propellant, which is used for both missiles and space rockets, involves casting it into large molds and then curing it. This process is notoriously slow, carries inherent hazards, and lacks flexibility, often taking up to two months to complete. Such a lengthy and rigid process imposes significant limitations on both performance capabilities and the speed of production, thereby impacting defense readiness and innovation.
Firehawk is replacing this decades-old manufacturing method with cutting-edge additive manufacturing. By utilizing 3D printing, they can construct propellant grains with intricate geometries that were previously considered impossible to achieve through conventional means. Furthermore, by employing relatively inexpensive commercial-off-the-shelf equipment alongside their novel additive manufacturing processes, Firehawk can drastically reduce per-unit production times by over 99% when compared to traditional techniques. This remarkable innovation not only makes motors safer to produce but also enables quicker scaling of production and greater adaptability across various weapon systems. In essence, Firehawk’s technology is fundamentally transforming the entire energetics supply chain, making it more agile, efficient, and responsive to evolving defense needs.
The primary goal of this strategic investment in Firehawk is to bolster Europe’s capacity to source critical elements of the munitions supply chain locally. This move is designed to significantly enhance resilience and guarantee sustained defense readiness for NATO and other allied forces. The fund facilitating this investment is built upon a rare and powerful alliance between a venture capital firm and a defense prime contractor, effectively bridging the gap between innovation and established industry. This unique partnership is poised to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, such as Firehawk’s. It also establishes a new and highly effective model for delivering novel defense technologies at scale, ensuring their rapid deployment across allied defense industrial bases and strengthening collective security.
KEY QUOTES:
“The conflict in Ukraine proves that while drones give warfighters a decisive edge, munitions like missiles and rockets are the core of combat power. A supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and propellant and energetics production are the biggest constraint on missile, rocket, and artillery manufacturing. Enabling the European defense industry to also produce these weapons quickly and at scale is the core of Firehawk’s mission. We’re proud to partner with Presto Tech Horizons and CSG to help bolster the European energetics supply chain and ensure our allies can fuel the production of key defense equipment.”
Will Edwards, CEO of Firehawk
“The current geopolitical situation underscores the need to invest in innovative defense technologies. Firehawk can play a crucial role in the future of not only rocket propulsion, but also ammunition production. This innovative project can strengthen cooperation between leaders of the American and European defense industries.”
Michal Strnad, Chairman of the Board and owner of CSG; The parties are already exploring opportunities for industrial application of Firehawk’s technologies.
“Since the early 2010s, scientists and engineers have explored 3D printing as a way to unlock faster, safer, and more flexible solid propellant production. Firehawk is the first to truly deliver on that promise. They combine rapid manufacturing with complex grain designs that were once impossible, improving performance while enabling distributed production at scale. Firehawk’s technology doesn’t just speed up how propellants are made – it fundamentally reshapes the supply chain for missiles and rockets. That’s why this partnership is so important for Europe’s defense resilience.”
Matej Luhovy, newly appointed Partner at Presto Tech Horizons
