► Patria partners with Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Cherry

23 August 2026 – Patria and Ukrainian drone manufacturer Center of Unmanned Technologies LLC ("General Cherry") have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on 23 August 2026. As part of the collaboration, Patria aims to establish drone production facilities in Finland, strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and positioning itself as a leader in defense technologies and innovation. Modern warfare is evolving rapidly, with drones, unmanned systems, sensors, and electronic warfare becoming critical defense components. Patria specializes in developing unmanned systems and drone capabilities within a broader defense ecosystem that integrates sensors, communications, data, artificial intelligence, and platforms to function effectively in contested environments. General Cherry focuses on producing strike FPV drones, fiber-optic drones, aerial-target interceptor drones, and fixed-wing UAVs. The partnership combines General Cherry’s expertise in small drones with Patria’s unmanned technologies and defense industry experience to create joint unmanned solutions tailored for Western European defense needs. Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Defence and Weapon Systems business area, emphasized the partnership’s significance: "Unmanned defense systems are vital for the future of defense, and we have invested in unmanned systems for years. This collaboration reinforces Patria’s expertise in unmanned defense and drone development." Stanislav Hryshyn, Co-Founder of General Cherry, highlighted the potential: "Our unique battlefield experience, combined with Patria’s technological capabilities, can drive a fundamental transformation of European and global security architecture. We are confident we can overcome challenges together." Patria has long been involved in the Ukrainian defense R&D ecosystem, expanding its expertise in unmanned systems and advancing next-generation capabilities, including AI-enabled solutions for unmanned aerial systems.