This article is based on an official press release from Orqa via PR Newswire. See the original release for full details.

Orqa Scales Production to 280,000 Drones Annually, Targeting Non-Chinese Supply Chain Dominance

On December 1, 2025, Croatian drone technology firm Orqa announced a major expansion of its manufacturing capabilities at its headquarters in Osijek, Croatia. The company stated it has successfully scaled its production capacity to manufacture 280,000 First-Person View (FPV) drones per year. This move is explicitly designed to address the growing demand for “sovereign” drone technology that eliminates reliance on Chinese supply chains.

The announcement comes at a critical juncture for the global defense industry, which has struggled to find cost-effective, scalable alternatives to market leader DJI. By achieving a fully vertically integrated supply chain within the European Union, Orqa aims to position itself as a primary provider for NATO allies and enterprise clients requiring strict data security and supply chain resilience.

Scaling European Defense Capabilities

According to the company’s press release, the expansion in Osijek represents a significant milestone in European industrial capacity. The facility is now set up to produce the company’s “MRM” (Multi-Role Multirotor) line of drones at mass scale. This capacity increase is not merely a projection but a realized operational status, intended to serve both government and enterprise sectors immediately.

Orqa’s CEO, Srdjan Kovacevic, emphasized the strategic importance of this development for the continent’s defense autonomy.

“This milestone reinforces our conviction that Europe can build a secure and independent industrial capacity for defence technology. We’ve proven that high-performance drone production can be scaled outside of China…”

, Srdjan Kovacevic, CEO of Orqa (via PR Newswire)

The company asserts that this production volume allows them to meet the high-attrition demands of modern conflict zones while maintaining the quality assurance required by Western military standards.

Vertical Integration and NDAA Compliance

A central theme of Orqa’s announcement is the elimination of Chinese components from its ecosystem. For years, Western drone manufacturers have relied on Chinese suppliers for critical sub-systems such as motors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and radio links. Orqa claims to have bypassed this dependency through aggressive vertical integration.

The company designs and manufactures its own critical components in-house, including:

• Flight Controllers (FC): Utilizing Western processors (STM32) rather than clones.
• Video Transmission Systems: Based on technology acquired from ImmersionRC.
• Radio Control Links: Proprietary protocols designed for secure communication.

This vertical integration ensures that Orqa’s products are fully compliant with the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). NDAA compliance is a prerequisite for selling unmanned aerial systems to the U.S. Department of Defense and many other federal agencies, effectively barring competitors who utilize restricted Chinese technology.

Technical Spotlight: The MRM Line and IRONghost

The production expansion focuses heavily on the MRM 1-5 (Multi-Role Multirotor 5-inch) platform. Based on technical specifications released by the company, this drone is a 5-inch quadcopter designed for durability and versatility. Unlike consumer camera drones, the MRM line utilizes a rugged carbon fiber frame suitable for kinetic applications, surveillance, and rigorous pilot training.

A key differentiator highlighted in the company’s background materials is the “IRONghost” communication protocol. Developed following Orqa’s 2020 acquisition of ImmersionRC, this sub-GHz command link is engineered to be resilient against Electronic Warfare (EW) and jamming. In the context of modern warfare, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, resistance to jamming is often the deciding factor in a drone’s effectiveness.

AirPro News Analysis: The Geopolitical Shift

The following is analysis by AirPro News regarding the market context of this announcement.

Orqa’s expansion to 280,000 units annually is more than a manufacturing statistic; it is a direct response to the “War Economy” driven by the conflict in Ukraine. The war has demonstrated that small, inexpensive FPV drones are consumable munitions rather than permanent assets. Western defense primes have historically struggled to produce low-cost hardware at the volume required for this type of warfare, leaving a vacuum often filled by modified Chinese consumer electronics.

By securing €5.8 million in seed funding from investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners and defense-focused funds, Orqa is validating the thesis that “dual-use” technology, tech that bridges the gap between hobbyist agility and military grade security, is the future of small-scale air superiority. If Orqa can maintain quality at this volume, they may successfully challenge DJI’s hegemony in the enterprise and government sectors where security clearance outweighs raw price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of NDAA compliance?

NDAA compliance refers to adherence to the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, which prohibits the use of components from specific Chinese companies in defense hardware. Compliance allows Orqa to sell to the U.S. government.

Where are Orqa drones manufactured?

The drones are manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Osijek, Croatia. The company has also indicated plans to establish a U.S. manufacturing presence in the future.

What is the production capacity of the new facility?

As of December 2025, the facility is capable of producing 280,000 drones annually.

Sources

• PR Newswire