Executive Summary:
Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has launched a new U.S.-based venture focused on producing NDAA-compliant unmanned aerial systems for American military customers. The move reflects growing Pentagon demand for secure, non-Chinese drone supply chains and expanded domestic production capacity.
Orqa Expands U.S. Drone Manufacturing Footprint
Croatian drone company Orqa is expanding into the United States with a new unmanned aerial systems production venture designed to deliver fully American-made drone platforms for U.S. government and defense customers.
The new entity, Orqa U.S., was established in partnership with By Light Professional IT Services LLC and will operate as an independently controlled U.S. company headquartered in Oakland, California. Full-rate production is planned at By Light’s 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Port Orange, Florida.
According to company statements, Orqa U.S. will focus on producing drones compliant with National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) restrictions and the American Security Drone Act, both of which increasingly limit the use of Chinese-made drone technologies within U.S. government systems.
The announcement comes as the Pentagon and U.S. lawmakers continue pushing to strengthen domestic drone manufacturing capacity amid concerns over supply chain dependence on Chinese components and growing battlefield demand for low-cost unmanned systems.
Growing Demand For Secure Drone Supply Chains
Orqa has rapidly expanded its production capacity over the past year as Western governments seek alternatives to Chinese drone suppliers.
The company stated in late 2025 that its Croatian production facilities could manufacture up to 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones annually using internally developed components and non-Chinese supply chains.
In December 2025, Orqa also launched a broader global manufacturing initiative intended to scale production beyond one million drones annually through partnerships across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. expansion appears directly aligned with Washington’s efforts to accelerate domestic drone production under emerging Pentagon programs focused on low-cost, attritable unmanned systems.
Company officials said Orqa U.S. intends to support programs linked to the Department of War’s Drone Dominance initiative, which prioritizes rapid fielding of scalable aerial robotic systems.
Why The Move Matters
Orqa’s U.S. expansion highlights a broader shift occurring across the Western defense industrial base.
The war in Ukraine significantly accelerated military demand for first-person-view (FPV) drones and inexpensive tactical unmanned systems capable of surveillance, strike, and attritable missions. Western militaries are now attempting to build resilient industrial ecosystems capable of producing such systems at scale without relying on Chinese manufacturing.
That requirement has become increasingly urgent as Beijing maintains a dominant position in the commercial drone market and global electronics supply chains.
Orqa has positioned itself as a European alternative focused on vertically integrated manufacturing and non-Chinese sourcing. The company says its systems are already used across more than 50 global markets, including 24 NATO member states.
The Florida production site also gives Orqa access to established U.S. defense infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and domestic certification pathways that are critical for Pentagon procurement programs.
Production Strategy And U.S. Industrial Alignment
According to the company, the Port Orange facility includes dedicated drone assembly lines, composites manufacturing, CNC machining, and quality control infrastructure intended to support large-scale military production.
Orqa U.S. also stated that its governance structure will remain fully controlled by U.S. citizens to ensure compliance with federal defense contracting rules.
The move mirrors broader defense industry trends where foreign drone developers are increasingly establishing localized U.S. production operations to gain access to Pentagon programs and meet regulatory requirements.
Earlier this year, Orqa also signed a teaming agreement with Red River Army Depot in Texas to support expanded U.S. Army unmanned aircraft manufacturing capacity.
Taken together, the agreements suggest Orqa is pursuing a long-term strategy aimed at embedding its drone technology within the U.S. defense industrial base rather than operating solely as a foreign supplier.
Strategic Outlook
The establishment of Orqa U.S. reflects how rapidly the global drone sector is evolving from a commercial technology market into a strategic defense manufacturing priority.
For the United States, expanding domestic and allied drone production capacity has become increasingly tied to operational readiness, supply chain security, and future battlefield requirements.
For Orqa, the U.S. venture provides direct access to one of the world’s largest defense procurement markets at a time when demand for scalable unmanned systems continues to rise sharply.
As NATO members and U.S. defense planners prioritize resilient drone ecosystems, companies capable of combining rapid production, regulatory compliance, and secure supply chains are likely to play a larger role in future military modernization efforts.
