Orqa Launches Global Partnership to Build One Million Drones Annually

OSIJEK, CROATIA – December 22, 2025 – In a strategic move poised to reshape the global defense technology landscape, European drone developer Orqa is set to announce its Global Manufacturing Partnership Program, an ambitious initiative designed to scale its annual production capacity to over one million unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The plan, officially launching December 23, represents a significant escalation from its current output of 280,000 units and signals a fundamental shift toward a decentralized, resilient, and allied-focused manufacturing ecosystem.

Based in Osijek, Croatia, Orqa has established itself as a vertically integrated powerhouse in first-person view (FPV) and UAS technology, delivering 100,000 products to over 50 countries in 2024. This new program leverages that expertise by partnering with manufacturers across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. The model combines Orqa's advanced Croatian engineering with the agility of localized production, aiming to meet the soaring global demand for defense-grade drones while sidestepping the supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical risks that have plagued the industry.

A New Front in the Drone Arms Race

The timing of Orqa's expansion is no coincidence. It comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a corresponding surge in defense spending worldwide. The global military drone market, valued at over $15 billion in 2025, is projected by some analysts to exceed $27 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate nearing 12%. Nations are scrambling to bolster their intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, a need vividly demonstrated in recent conflicts.

Central to Orqa's strategy is the creation of a supply chain entirely independent of Chinese components. This directly confronts a critical vulnerability for Western nations, as China currently dominates the production of many raw materials and components essential for drone manufacturing. By building a secure, 'China-free' supply line, Orqa is positioning itself as a trusted partner for defense clients who prioritize data security, supply integrity, and strategic autonomy. This move aligns with broader Western policies aimed at 'de-risking' from adversary-controlled supply chains.

Furthermore, the decentralized production network is designed to navigate the labyrinthine world of international defense regulations. By manufacturing systems within or near the end-user's region, the program can reduce the complexities and lead times associated with export controls like the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Localized production also facilitates compliance with regional standards, such as NATO's Standardization Agreements (STANAGs) for airworthiness and interoperability, making Orqa's systems more attractive and easier to integrate for allied forces.

Disrupting the Manufacturing Playbook

Orqa's initiative is more than just a production increase; it's a new blueprint for high-tech manufacturing. The company plans to provide its partners with standardized components and engineering protocols, ensuring that a drone manufactured in North America meets the exact same 'defense-grade' specifications as one built in Europe. This distributed model promises to dramatically reduce lead times, slash logistical costs, and enhance responsiveness to specific regional demands.

This approach presents a formidable challenge to the traditional, centralized manufacturing models of established defense giants like Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Raytheon. While these titans excel at producing large, highly sophisticated platforms, Orqa's focus on high-volume, agile production of smaller FPV and UAS platforms could capture a different but equally critical segment of the market. The company's strategy mirrors the success of international players like Turkey's Baykar, which found a global market for effective, combat-tested, and accessible drones.

By enabling allied nations to produce their own defense systems locally, Orqa is effectively democratizing access to advanced drone technology. This could disrupt traditional procurement cycles, which often involve lengthy, complex government-to-government sales. Instead, partner nations gain the capacity to rapidly produce and deploy systems tailored to their immediate security needs, a critical advantage in the fast-paced environment of modern warfare.

Fueling Local Economies and High-Tech Jobs

Beyond the geopolitical chessboard, Orqa's program carries significant economic implications. A core stated goal is to support 're-industrialization and the creation of high-value manufacturing jobs' in partner markets. This vision aligns with a growing political and economic trend in both Europe and the United States to repatriate critical manufacturing and strengthen domestic industrial bases, particularly in the defense sector.

For regions that secure a manufacturing partnership, the program promises a direct injection of investment, job creation, and the development of a sophisticated local supply chain. The establishment of facilities capable of producing defense-grade electronics and aerial systems will necessitate and foster a highly skilled workforce, stimulating regional tech ecosystems and creating sustainable, high-value employment.

This economic incentive is a powerful component of the program's appeal. As governments worldwide seek to build resilience and self-sufficiency, initiatives that couple national security objectives with economic development are becoming increasingly attractive. Orqa's model offers a tangible pathway for nations to not only enhance their defense capabilities but also to cultivate a new generation of technical expertise and advanced manufacturing prowess.

As the program rolls out, all eyes will be on which specific partners are announced and how quickly the network can scale. If successful, Orqa's global manufacturing web will not only cement its position as a dominant force in the UAS market but could also establish a new paradigm for how critical defense technologies are developed, produced, and deployed in an increasingly fragmented and competitive world.