General Cherry and Orqa Forge Partnership to Develop Counter-Drone Systems in Europe
General Cherry and Orqa Collaborate on Drone Development
Ukrainian company General Cherry and Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa have entered into a memorandum of cooperation to develop and manufacture interceptor drones and counter-drone systems in Europe. This partnership combines General Cherry’s combat experience with Orqa’s production capabilities in Croatia. Joint manufacturing facilities are being established in both countries, ensuring that European production does not deplete Ukraine‘s own interceptor supply, a challenge that has complicated defense export discussions since the escalation of threats in 2024.
General Cherry’s Rapid Development
General Cherry, co-founded by Yaroslav Hryshyn and Stanislav Hryshyn, emerged as a defense manufacturer only after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Within 18 months, the company developed four distinct interceptor platforms, all recognized by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and listed on the Brave1 defense procurement marketplace. At the recent XPONENTIAL Europe 2026 event in Düsseldorf, General Cherry showcased a range of products, including reconnaissance drones and attack drones. Notably, one of its drones recently downed a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter.
The flagship product is the Bullet, a fixed-wing VTOL interceptor capable of reaching speeds of 309 km/h, with a tactical range of 17–20 km. The design allows for 3D printing, which helps reduce costs and facilitates distributed production, making it suitable for rapid manufacturing by Orqa.
Orqa’s Manufacturing Capabilities
Orqa has established a robust production infrastructure, having expanded its facility in Osijek to accommodate the production of 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones annually. The company has focused on building a decentralized manufacturing network, which aligns with its partnership with General Cherry. This collaboration allows for the production of systems that meet the same security standards as those manufactured in Croatia, while also minimizing reliance on Chinese components.
Addressing Export Constraints
There is significant demand for Ukraine’s interceptor drones, particularly from the Pentagon and Gulf states, as the need for effective air defense systems grows. However, exporting these drones poses a challenge, as each unit sent abroad reduces the number available for Ukraine’s defense against ongoing threats. The partnership between General Cherry and Orqa aims to alleviate this issue by shifting production to Europe, allowing for the creation of combat-proven systems without impacting Ukraine’s frontline capabilities.
This collaboration also aligns with NATO’s recent initiatives, including the launch of the UNITE-Brave portal, which encourages joint Allied-Ukrainian bids for defense projects. The partnership exemplifies the type of cooperation that the portal aims to promote.
Future Prospects
At the XPONENTIAL Europe event, General Cherry attracted attention from NATO procurement officials and European defense representatives, showcasing its combat-tested products. The partnership with Orqa represents a strategic move to enhance production capabilities and meet the growing demand for Ukrainian defense systems in Europe.
As Ukrainian defense companies expand their presence in allied nations, the trend of co-development agreements and licensed manufacturing is expected to continue. Additional partnerships between European manufacturers and Ukrainian C-UAS developers are anticipated in the near future, further solidifying Ukraine’s role in the global defense industry.