Croatian company Orqa wants to produce as many as a million FPV drones annually without dependence on Chinese components. And for this it’s launching the Global Manufacturing Partnership Program, which even includes the US Army.
It’s noted that agreements have already been reached with partners from North America, Europe, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific region. This should help increase annual production, which now stands at 280,000 unmanned aircraft.
FPV drones from Croatian company Orqa / Photo credit: Orqa
Another reason for such expansion is localization of the company’s product output with localization in various countries. This way it will also be possible to simplify logistics, bypass legislative restrictions, and involve local industry, which will be an important argument when obtaining contracts.
Orqa also emphasizes that they’re focused on creating the first sustainable supply chains for FPV drones that will be completely free from Chinese supplies. The previously named geography raises questions about implementing such a goal, but overall this will indeed be a good achievement with available scales.
FPV drones from Croatian company Orqa / Photo credit: MORH/T. Brandt
Defense Express notes that before us is a good example of competitor to Ukrainian companies in the unmanned aircraft market. Although our manufacturers remain advanced in this direction, many will try to compete with this on a global scale.
At the same time, one can also see things that various companies are ready to do to obtain contracts and expand geography. This includes localization, readiness to transfer technology, and, what’s even more valuable, guaranteeing absence of Chinese trace.
FPV drones from Croatian company Orqa / Photo credit: Orqa
Regarding volumes of FPV drone production per year, Croatia previously stated it wants to achieve a value of several million. This is at the level of what Ukraine could do a year or two ago, where in 2025 as many as 3 million unmanned aircraft were produced.
If we look at Orqa’s plans, then the million declared by it will be produced around the world, and not only at Croatian facilities. However, this is still a serious desire for one company; the main challenge now will be to implement it. And it’s quite likely that the U.S. Armys SkyFoundry program is helping with this.
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