Fortem Technologies displayed counter-drone equipment at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. (Janes)
US-based Fortem Technologies plans to nearly triple the size of its factory to meet growing demand for its counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) products, according to a company spokesperson.
The 35,000 sq ft (3,252 m²) facility will expand to about 100,000 sq ft in the next year, the spokesperson told Janes on 22 February. Citing security concerns, the spokesperson declined to disclose the location of the factory other than to say it is in the US.
To pay for the expansion, Fortem will use some of the USD17.8 million it generated from a recent fundraiser. Lockheed Martin Ventures, the venture capital arm of the US defence contractor, and South Korea-based Hanwha Aerospace were among the investors that participated in the fundraiser. The money will also bolster Fortem's product development and sales and service capabilities.
Fortem's products include the DroneHunter F700 UAV, which fires a net to capture a hostile drone and tow or parachute it to the ground. The company also offers TrueView radars and camera systems and the SkyDome Manager, which aggregates sensor data.
Fortem says its systems have helped Ukraine defend its critical infrastructure against Iranian-made Shahed-136 “suicide drones” deployed by Russian forces. Fortem's equipment was also used to provide security at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Fortem, which is based in Pleasant Grove, Utah, announced in December 2022 that it has opened an office in the Washington, DC, area to better serve its customers in the region. Michael Buscher, the company's new executive director of enterprise operations, will work in the new office and will co-ordinate Fortem's interaction with the US government.
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