Sec Form 3 Filing - Astera Institute @ Firefly Aerospace Inc. - 2025-08-06

FORM 3 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Astera Institute 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Firefly Aerospace Inc. [ FLY] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director X __ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 1351 OCEAN AVE, 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/06/2025 (Street) EMERYVILLE, CA94608 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _____ Form filed by One Reporting Person __ X __ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Series Seed Preferred Stock ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Common Stock 2,859,047 I See Footnote ( 2 ) Series A Preferred Stock ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Common Stock 9,998,686 I See Footnote ( 2 )

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Astera Institute 1351 OCEAN AVE EMERYVILLE, CA94608 X McCaleb Jed C/O ASTERA INSTITUTE 1351 OCEAN AVE EMERYVILLE, CA94608 X Signatures Astera Institute, by: Jed McCaleb, its Executive Director By: /s/ Jed McCaleb 08/06/2025 Signature of Reporting Person Date /s/ Jed McCaleb 08/06/2025 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The shares of Issuer's preferred stock have no expiration date and are convertible at the holder's election into Issuer's common stock. The preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of the Issuer's common stock, for no additional consideration, upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering. ( 2 )Represents shares held directly by Astera Institute. Astera Institute is a non-profit organization and Jed McCaleb is the executive director of such organization. As such, Mr. McCaleb disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities held by Astera Institute.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.