An underground plant and a joint venture in Croatia: what General Cherry and Orqa have in mind
8 April 11:17
Ukrainian manufacturer of FPV drones and interceptor drones “General Chereshnya,” together with the Croatian company Orqa, is launching a joint venture to produce European components for unmanned aerial vehicles. As part of the collaboration, the parties plan to build an underground factory in Ukraine to produce components and peripherals for UAVs. This was reported by the Ukrainian company’s press service, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The key goal of the project is to localize production in Ukraine and reduce dependence on foreign, primarily Chinese, components. The companies state that this is a strategic partnership intended to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s defense industry and provide the Armed Forces with a more independent component base.
What exactly is planned to be built
As part of the Build in Ukraine initiative, the partners intend to construct an underground factory in Ukraine that will specialize in the production of various components and peripheral equipment for drones. This production format was chosen to protect critical facilities amid the war and the constant threat of attacks on industrial infrastructure.
At the same time, the companies are launching joint mass production in Croatia. It is there that they plan to work on developing the latest drone technologies, combining Orqa’s European engineering expertise with the Ukrainian manufacturer’s combat experience.
Who is involved in the project
General Chereshnya is a Ukrainian defense-tech company that develops and mass-produces FPV drones and interceptor drones. According to the company, it has 33 cataloged products and manufactures over 70,000 drones per month.
“General Chereshnya” is a Ukrainian defense-tech company that develops and mass-produces modern unmanned aerial vehicles, including FPV drones and interceptor drones to counter aerial threats. The company has 33 standardized products in its portfolio. Every month, General Cherry manufactures over 70,000 drones. As a result of the drones’ operations, the company has managed to destroy a large amount of Russian equipment, including 2,000 enemy UAVs, with a total value of $1 billion.
Orqa is a Croatian company and one of the largest manufacturers of UAVs and components in Europe. The company works with more than 50 countries worldwide and collaborates with 24 NATO member states.
Why do they want to locate this plant underground?
The idea of an underground plant is linked to protecting production from airstrikes and ensuring the continuity of manufacturing critical components. In the current environment, secure production sites capable of operating even under high military threat levels are becoming increasingly important for the defense industry.
Underground placement should also allow for more stable planning of large-scale production and reduce risks to personnel, logistics, and technological processes. In the context of war, this means not only expanding production but also increasing its resilience.
Why Ukraine Needs Localization of Drone Components
For the Ukrainian defense industry, localization means less dependence on external suppliers, faster access to parts, and better control over production costs and timelines. General Chereshnya has explicitly stated that it aims for full localization of component production in Ukraine.
This approach is of strategic importance, as drones have become one of the key tools of modern warfare, and a shortage of components or dependence on imports can directly impact the front lines’ capabilities. That is why launching a domestic production base is viewed as a matter not only of the economy but also of defense resilience.
What this means for Ukraine and Europe
At General Chereshnya, they expect that the new partnership will help not only strengthen Ukraine technologically but also lay the groundwork for broader cooperation with NATO countries. The company’s statements mention the rearmament of allies, a new European security architecture, and the translation of Ukrainian combat experience into mass-produced products for partners.
Essentially, this is a model in which Ukraine acts not only as a consumer of military technologies but also as a manufacturing and engineering hub, creating products for its own army and for partner markets. Joint production in Ukraine and Croatia is part of precisely this approach.
When will the first results appear?
The company reported that the first joint products from “General Chereshni” and Orqa are expected to appear in the near future.
The parties have not yet disclosed specific launch dates for the underground plant or future production volumes.
