G-Tech Optoelectronics (GTOC) said its wholly owned subsidiary has partnered with US defense technology startup Firestorm Labs and aerospace and defense solutions provider Aerkomm to advance next-generation military drone production and combat system integration, marking GTOC’s entry into the military-grade unmanned aerial vehicle market. The company plans to establish a drone assembly line in Taiwan. The partnership was facilitated by Aerkomm, a major US-based customer. Under the collaboration, GTOC and Firestorm Labs formed a strategic alliance centered on Firestorm’s drone-focused additive manufacturing technology. Firestorm uses 3D printing as its core manufacturing approach, combined with modular design and an open systems architecture, enabling rapid drone assembly and fast integration of mission-specific payloads and subsystems. The approach supports low-cost, high-volume production. GTOC’s subsidiary plans to leverage its existing manufacturing capacity in Taiwan to introduce Firestorm’s additive manufacturing-based drone production locally. It also aims to accelerate integration of locally developed payloads and key subsystems, creating a defense manufacturing model supported by domestic production while offering distributed, highly resilient operations and rapid capacity expansion. The model is intended to balance relatively low cost, high output, and strong mission adaptability.

Full report : G-Tech Optoelectronics ventures into military drones with Firestorm Labs, Aerkomm.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Firestorm Labs.