Europe’s skies are moving toward a new era of european drone manufacturing, focused on security and independence. A Croatia-based producer is expanding capacity to deliver tens of thousands of defense-ready drones each year, signaling a pivotal shift in how Europe builds and buys unmanned systems.

european drone manufacturing: Orqa scales to 280k drones

Big leap for a European drone maker

Orqa, known for its FPV and unmanned aerial systems, has expanded its Osijek, Croatia facility to produce up to 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones per year. The company emphasizes a fully vertically integrated model where key components are designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house. That approach gives Orqa tighter control over performance, reliability, and security — a critical mix as defense and enterprise buyers demand more predictable supply chains.

This milestone targets a core market shift: reducing dependence on external suppliers, particularly in China, while offering a domestically scalable option for European and allied customers. The scale-up not only expands airframes but also supports a broader ecosystem of in-house components and precision assembly that can be tuned for defense, border, critical infrastructure, and high-end enterprise missions.

According to RoboticsTomorrow, the expansion aligns with Orqa’s strategy to broaden manufacturing beyond a single site. The company has begun extending its production model globally through a decentralised network of strategic manufacturing partners, with agreements already in place in key territories. That model promises resilience by distributing risk across multiple facilities rather than concentrating production in one location.

“This milestone reinforces our conviction that Europe can build a secure and independent industrial capacity for defence technology,” said Srdjan Kovacevic, CEO of Orqa. His comments underscore a strategic pivot from dependence on international supply chains toward a homegrown, defensible production base. The company’s public-facing material notes it delivered more than 100,000 products in 2024 and serves customers in over 50 countries, illustrating both scale and global reach behind the push for secure capacity.

From a procurement perspective, NDAA-compliance — a reference point for United States defense procurement rules — signals that Orqa is courting not just European buyers but potential U.S. partnerships as well. NDAA standards cover security, reliability, and risk management criteria that matter when drones intersect with critical infrastructure or military operations. In practice, that means the company is aiming to satisfy a wider set of customers who previously preferred different supply chains or more domestic options.

For defense planners and enterprise buyers, the move highlights a broader trend: the maturation of Europe’s drone industry from research and niche products into scalable production capable of meeting stringent security requirements. As Orqa expands, it also hints at a rebalanced ecosystem where European firms leverage in-house engineering, strong supplier relationships, and scalable assembly to compete with global players. This is not just about equipment; it is about building a trusted, transparent, and auditable supply chain that can withstand geopolitical pressures.

Of course, scale brings challenges. Maintaining cost discipline while achieving NDAA-compliant security requires rigorous quality management, supplier vetting, and ongoing certification. The decentralized partner model helps mitigate risk, but it also demands robust governance to prevent fragmentation of standards across sites. Still, the overarching signal is clear: Europe is actively pursuing a defense-grade manufacturing backbone that can sustain both state and civil roles for years to come.

What this means for the European drone market

Orqa’s expansion accelerates a regional trend toward sovereign capability in aerial robotics. As more European players invest in vertical integration and domestic production, the industry could see faster product refresh cycles, tighter security profiles, and greater collaboration with national defense ministries. The approach also provides a template for other regions that seek to diversify away from single-country supply chains while preserving performance and cost competitiveness.

In practical terms, buyers may soon enjoy shorter lead times, more predictable pricing, and greater supplier accountability. For vendors, the emphasis on NDAA compliance and secure design practices creates a clearer path to serving dual-use markets where civil applications and defense applications intersect. The broader implication is a more resilient European drone ecosystem that can weather external shocks and continue to push the frontier of autonomous flight and sensor fusion.

Technical and policy context

Orqa’s model hinges on full vertical integration, which covers the core avionics, propulsion, and payload components as well as software and integration practices. This reduces the risk of counterfeit parts, supply interruptions, and security vulnerabilities that can plague multi-sourced programs. In policy terms, the EU and NATO allies are increasingly sensitive to supply chain integrity for critical technologies, and Orqa’s approach dovetails with this agenda by offering a transparent, auditable production line backed by in-house design capability.

FAQ

• Is Orqa’s drone line really NDAA compliant? The company markets its drones as NDAA-compliant, positioning them for U.S. defense procurement channels that require security and reliability standards.
• What is NDAA compliance? NDAA refers to the National Defense Authorization Act in the United States. Compliance involves meeting security, sourcing, and manufacturing criteria that reduce risk for defense programs.
• Where will production scale occur? The expansion centers on Orqa’s Osijek facility in Croatia, with a plan to deploy a global network of manufacturing partners to support international demand.

Conclusion

Orqa’s 280,000-unit production milestone marks more than a growth story. It signals a deliberate shift in how Europe builds secure, scalable, and sovereign drone capabilities. With NDAA-aligned products, in-house design to assembly, and a global partner network, Orqa is positioning European drone manufacturing as a credible, competitive alternative to traditional supply chains. For defense planners, policy makers, and enterprise operators, the message is clear: Europe is accelerating its journey toward trusted, domestically resilient aerial systems that can stand up to today’s complex security environment.