Finland's Patria and Ukrainian drone maker plan joint production in Finland

Finnish defense company Patria and Ukrainian drone manufacturer Center of Unmanned Technologies, operating under the brand General Cherry, have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in unmanned systems. As part of the agreement, Patria plans to launch drone production in Finland.

Patria says the partnership with the Ukrainian company will help strengthen European defense capabilities and supports its broader goal of developing new defense technologies. The company notes that modern warfare is changing rapidly, with drones, unmanned systems, sensors and electronic warfare becoming essential components of defense capability.

Combining expertise

General Cherry specializes in developing and mass-producing strike FPV drones, fiber-optic drones and interceptor drones for aerial targets. The cooperation will combine General Cherry's experience in small drone development with Patria's expertise in unmanned technologies and the defense industry, enabling joint development of unmanned solutions for Western European defense needs.

Patria's executive vice president for defense and weapon systems, Mikko Leino, said unmanned defense systems will play an increasingly important role in the future, which is why the company has invested in their development for several years. General Cherry co-founder Stanislav Hrishyn said the company's unique battlefield experience, combined with Patria's technological capabilities, could significantly influence Europe's and the world's security systems.

Patria has long been involved in Ukrainian defense research and development projects and is also developing artificial intelligence solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles. The company has more than a hundred years of history and operates in several European countries, including Latvia, where it runs an armored vehicle production facility in Valmiera. General Cherry was founded in Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion and is one of the country's leading interceptor drone manufacturers, developing its solutions in close cooperation with soldiers on the front line.