Patria partners with Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Cherry
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 plans to initiate drone production in Finland, which would support the development of Europe’s defence capabilities and Patria’s aim to be a pioneer in defence technologies and an innovative product developer.
Modern and future warfare is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly complex. Drones, unmanned systems, sensors and electronic warfare have become key defence capabilities. Patria develops unmanned systems and drone capabilities as part of a broader defence ecosystem, where sensors, communications, data, artificial intelligence and platforms work together effectively in contested and rapidly changing environments.
General Cherry specialises in the development and serial production of strike FPV drones, fiber-optic drones, aerial-target interceptor drones, and fixed-wing UAVs. The collaboration brings together General Cherry’s extensive expertise in small drones and Patria’s unmanned technologies and broad experience in defence industry, enabling the joint development of unmanned solutions for Western European defence needs.
“Unmanned defence systems are central to the future of defence, which is why we have invested in development of unmanned systems for years as part of our operations. The partnership with General Cherry further reinforces Patria’s expertise in unmanned defence systems and drone development,” says Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Defence and Weapon Systems business area.
“It is a great honour for us to begin a productive, long-term and effective partnership with Patria, one of the leading defence companies. We believe that our unique battlefield experience, combined with Patria’s technological capabilities, can help drive a fundamental transformation of the European and global security architecture. There are many challenges and tasks ahead, and we are confident that we will overcome them together,” says Stanislav Hryshyn, Co-Founder of General Cherry.
Patria has long been an active participant in the defence research and development (R&D) ecosystem in Ukraine. Through the years, Patria has developed also its offering and expertise in unmanned systems and is actively advancing next-generation capabilities, including AI-enabled solutions for unmanned aerial systems.
Media enquiries and further information:
communications@patriagroup.com
Sirje Ahvenlampi-Hyvönen, Vice President, Group Communications, Patria, tel. +358 50 557 3822, sirje.ahvenlampi-hyvonen@patriagroup.com
Patria is a modern and international defence and technology company with over 100 years of experience. Through our top-notch experts and Protected Mobility, Defence and Weapon Systems and Sustainment Solutions business areas, we ensure reliable operations for our customers and serve as a partner in critical functions on land, sea and air – when if is not an option. Patria’s operating countries include Finland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Japan.
Patria is owned by the State of Finland (50.1%) and Norwegian Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Patria owns 50% of Nammo, and together these three companies form a leading Nordic defence partnership. www.patriagroup.com
About General Cherry:
communications@gencherry.com
Founded in Ukraine in the wake of the full-scale invasion, General Cherry is one of the country's leading manufacturers of interceptor drones, including its battlefield-proven Bullet platform. Built alongside Ukrainian soldiers and shaped by continuous frontline feedback, the company develops counter-UAS systems for the armed forces and is expanding internationally through partnerships with global defense technology companies. www.gencherry.com/en