Western Drone Company Opens Shop in Ukraine to Build Better Weapons for NATO
Ukraine Offers Real-World Expertise
ORQA says working in Ukraine gives the company a way to learn from battlefield conditions and tailor its products to NATO requirements. CEO Srđan Kovačević told Business Insider that this setting can bring operational experience directly into product development.
Kovačević said there are few places where unmanned aerial threats can be engaged in a real-world environment. He also described Ukrainian forces’ operational capabilities as exceptional compared with those in the Western world.
Partnership With General Cherry
ORQA makes components used by Ukrainian defense technology company General Cherry. The two firms are partnering to develop drone systems together and share Ukraine’s expertise in the field.
They intend to manufacture in both Ukraine and other countries. Their plans include supplying NATO and its allies with Ukrainian-developed counter-drone technology and increasing production of drone components within Ukraine.
Balancing NATO and Ukraine Needs
Kovačević said Ukrainian equipment cannot simply be moved into NATO forces unchanged. Ukraine has developed weapons rapidly and adapted to the resources available, he said. The partnerships are intended to serve NATO without weakening Ukraine’s ability to meet its own wartime needs. Kovačević also said Ukraine relies substantially on supply chains from outside the country and Europe, making reduced dependence strategically important.
ORQA says it produces important components in-house and avoids Chinese-made parts. Kovačević said Ukrainian drone manufacturers produce volumes that far exceed current Western output.
Other Firms Draw on Ukraine
ORQA is not the only company using Ukraine’s battlefield experience to develop weapons for NATO. Latvia-based Origin Robotics makes BLAZE interceptor drones, which several NATO militaries have bought. Origin Robotics also makes BEAK, a precision-guided weapon launched from a drone and used by Ukrainian forces.
Key points
- ORQA is partnering with General Cherry to develop drone systems and share Ukrainian expertise.
- The firms plan production in Ukraine and elsewhere, while preserving Ukraine’s ability to meet wartime needs.
- ORQA says it makes key components in-house and avoids Chinese-made parts.
- Kovačević says Ukrainian drone makers produce far greater volumes than Western counterparts.