ORQA secures $38 million U.S. military drone contract

ORQA, a company based in Osijek, Croatia, has secured a $38 million contract through its American entity to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the United States military. This achievement follows a competition held by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The company is entering the American market through a strategic partnership with the U.S. firm By Light. While current technology and key components are sourced from Croatia, the contract requires final assembly to take place on American soil. ORQA is reportedly working on a transition plan to eventually manufacture its Croatian intellectual property within the United States to meet client requirements.

Company executives noted that the defense industry is seeing an unprecedented rate of innovation, where suppliers are expected to deliver improved systems every quarter. This shift is driven by the evolving needs of Western users and lessons learned from modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, which highlighted the importance of rapid technological application.