General Cherry and Orqa Collaborate to Enhance NATO's Drone Defense Capabilities
In a groundbreaking move, the Ukrainian defense technology company General Cherry and the Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa, Europe's leader in UAV technology, have entered into a collaborative memorandum to offer Ukrainian drone defense capabilities to NATO and its allied nations. This partnership highlights the strengths of both companies: General Cherry's operational experience and Orqa's technological expertise.
The genesis of this collaboration is rooted in Ukraine's substantial knowledge in counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), showcasing its prowess in intercepting drones. Orqa's proven production capabilities will complement this expertise, aiming to enhance NATO's resilience while simultaneously ensuring that Ukraine's defense competencies remain unaffected. By integrating their resources, both companies strive to fortify the airspace of Europe with defensive systems manufactured in the region.
Initially, their joint efforts will focus on developing and manufacturing intercept drones, components, and additional C-UAV systems. Both parties are currently working to establish shared production facilities in Croatia and Ukraine, with the rollout of the first products anticipated shortly.
Yaroslav Gryshyn, co-founder of General Cherry, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "Today marks a new chapter for our company and for Ukraine's defense technology sector. We are embarking on a significant and promising partnership with a company that brings over a decade of experience and leading expertise in the UAV industry. Our collective goal is clear: to help build a new architecture of European and global security. The unique combat experience Ukraine possesses, combined with Orqa's technological capabilities, creates a strong synergy. Together, we are prepared to change the game."
The co-founder and CEO of Orqa, Srđan Kovačević, emphasized the exceptional potential of their partnership, highlighting that the combat experience of General Cherry in real operational conditions combined with Orqa's extensive technical skills forms the foundation of a collaboration modeled on pioneering shared manufacturing. "This is a significant advancement for both companies and nations, as General Cherry's highly effective interceptor drone capabilities become available beyond Ukraine for the first time. The outcome will strengthen the security framework of all allied nations," he noted.
General Cherry, recognized as a leading developer and manufacturer of UAVs in Ukraine, recently achieved the top position in the Army of Drones bonus program for interceptor drones and ranks first among all FPV drone developers.
Orqa stands as one of the largest UAV/drone manufacturers globally, supplying components and integrated systems to customers in over 50 markets, including 24 NATO member states. Notably, all products from Orqa are manufactured without Chinese components; the company's vertically integrated production model ensures that every key element is designed, developed, and produced in-house, making the supply chain resilient to geopolitical tensions. In 2026, Orqa was ranked 135th in the FT1000 list of the Financial Times for Europe's 1,000 fastest-growing companies and 2nd in the aerospace and defense category.
As these two companies embark on this strategic collaboration, the implications for both European security and the advancement of drone technology are substantial. By leveraging their respective strengths, General Cherry and Orqa aim not only to bolster NATO's defenses but also contribute to the evolution of global security architecture, ensuring that nations can better protect their airspace from emerging threats. This partnership serves as a beacon of cooperation in a time when the geopolitical landscape demands innovation and resilience in defense technology. Their joint efforts represent a significant milestone in harmonizing defense capabilities between Ukraine and NATO allies, setting a precedent for future collaborations in the defense sector.
The genesis of this collaboration is rooted in Ukraine's substantial knowledge in counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), showcasing its prowess in intercepting drones. Orqa's proven production capabilities will complement this expertise, aiming to enhance NATO's resilience while simultaneously ensuring that Ukraine's defense competencies remain unaffected. By integrating their resources, both companies strive to fortify the airspace of Europe with defensive systems manufactured in the region.
Initially, their joint efforts will focus on developing and manufacturing intercept drones, components, and additional C-UAV systems. Both parties are currently working to establish shared production facilities in Croatia and Ukraine, with the rollout of the first products anticipated shortly.
Yaroslav Gryshyn, co-founder of General Cherry, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "Today marks a new chapter for our company and for Ukraine's defense technology sector. We are embarking on a significant and promising partnership with a company that brings over a decade of experience and leading expertise in the UAV industry. Our collective goal is clear: to help build a new architecture of European and global security. The unique combat experience Ukraine possesses, combined with Orqa's technological capabilities, creates a strong synergy. Together, we are prepared to change the game."
The co-founder and CEO of Orqa, Srđan Kovačević, emphasized the exceptional potential of their partnership, highlighting that the combat experience of General Cherry in real operational conditions combined with Orqa's extensive technical skills forms the foundation of a collaboration modeled on pioneering shared manufacturing. "This is a significant advancement for both companies and nations, as General Cherry's highly effective interceptor drone capabilities become available beyond Ukraine for the first time. The outcome will strengthen the security framework of all allied nations," he noted.
General Cherry, recognized as a leading developer and manufacturer of UAVs in Ukraine, recently achieved the top position in the Army of Drones bonus program for interceptor drones and ranks first among all FPV drone developers.
Orqa stands as one of the largest UAV/drone manufacturers globally, supplying components and integrated systems to customers in over 50 markets, including 24 NATO member states. Notably, all products from Orqa are manufactured without Chinese components; the company's vertically integrated production model ensures that every key element is designed, developed, and produced in-house, making the supply chain resilient to geopolitical tensions. In 2026, Orqa was ranked 135th in the FT1000 list of the Financial Times for Europe's 1,000 fastest-growing companies and 2nd in the aerospace and defense category.
As these two companies embark on this strategic collaboration, the implications for both European security and the advancement of drone technology are substantial. By leveraging their respective strengths, General Cherry and Orqa aim not only to bolster NATO's defenses but also contribute to the evolution of global security architecture, ensuring that nations can better protect their airspace from emerging threats. This partnership serves as a beacon of cooperation in a time when the geopolitical landscape demands innovation and resilience in defense technology. Their joint efforts represent a significant milestone in harmonizing defense capabilities between Ukraine and NATO allies, setting a precedent for future collaborations in the defense sector.
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