Lindon-based Fortem Technologies will put its counter-drone interceptors into European and allied air-defense networks under an expanded partnership with MBDA, one of Europe's largest weapons manufacturers.

The deal, announced Monday, Oct. 12, builds on a technical collaboration the two companies started in 2024. That earlier work integrated Fortem's DroneHunter autonomous interceptor into MBDA's Sky Warden counter-drone system. MBDA will now offer DroneHunter alongside a jointly developed kinetic interceptor called FireThorn to its defense and government customers worldwide. Sales require applicable export authorizations.

Fortem CEO Jon Gruen announced the expanded partnership ahead of the 2026 Warsaw Security Forum.

"Drones have changed how wars are fought, and air defense must change with them," Gruen said in a joint press release. "Militaries don't need another standalone gadget. They need autonomous interceptors that plug into the architecture they already trust."

Two interceptors, two approaches

DroneHunter uses an autonomous aircraft to capture hostile drones with a net, bringing them down intact. That approach is suited to populated areas where minimizing collateral damage and preserving evidence matter.

FireThorn takes a different path. Co-developed by Fortem and MBDA, the fully autonomous interceptor pairs Fortem's radar-guided airframe with an MBDA NATO-approved warhead to destroy hostile drones. The system's design reflects lessons from drone warfare in Ukraine, where one-way attack drones like the Shahed have become a central battlefield threat.

FireThorn was on display at MBDA's booth during the Association of the United States Army convention (AUSA 2026) in Washington, D.C., Oct. 12–14.

Momentum at the Lindon headquarters

The European expansion caps a busy stretch for the Silicon Slopes company. Fortem closed a $50 million Series B funding round on Sept. 30, led by Lockheed Martin, which committed $25 million in the initial tranche announced in April. Unusual Machines and other investors also participated, according to a company press release. Fortem said the capital will accelerate manufacturing at its roughly 51,500-square-foot Lindon facility, where the company employs about 150 people.

In August, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) selected Fortem as the only small business among seven prime contractors on a five-year counter-drone contract with a ceiling of $1.011 billion. That figure represents the maximum potential value of the overall contract, not guaranteed revenue for Fortem. Gruen told TechBuzz News the company's preliminary estimate of its own potential demand approached $100 million over the following few years, though he cautioned actual orders remain uncertain.

The DHS contract covers agencies including Customs and Border Protection, TSA, the Coast Guard and the U.S. Secret Service. Fortem was also selected to help protect U.S. venues during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fortem also holds an $18 million, three-year U.S. Army contract and was selected for the Pentagon's Replicator-2 initiative. Gruen is scheduled to attend the 2026 Warsaw Security Forum following the AUSA convention.