Croatian drone manufacturer to invest $150 million in Ottawa and Mississauga plants
Orqa's partnership with Canadian firm Remote Robotic Systems will expand production capacity and create up to 100 new jobs by next year, with a goal of producing 10,000 drones monthly.
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A Croatia-based drone manufacturer says it will invest $150 million over the next five years to expand production facilities in Ottawa and Mississauga, signaling growing confidence in Canada's unmanned systems market.
Orqa, which describes itself as Europe's leading drone technology company, has partnered with Canadian firm Remote Robotic Systems to expand RRS's manufacturing plants. RRS bills itself as Canada's largest and fastest-growing drone technology provider. Under the agreement, Orqa will license some of its technology to RRS, and the two firms will develop new solutions using AI and other advanced technologies.
The companies say the deal will create up to 100 new jobs by the end of next year. They're aiming to eventually produce 10,000 drones per month at the expanded facilities, with the Ottawa and Mississauga plants serving as a manufacturing hub and export launchpad for defence and commercial markets across North America.
Orqa chief commercial officer Ivan Jelusic said the agreement creates a "strategic framework for co-operation between RRS and Orqa to co-develop, manufacture, and commercialize advanced defence technologies" with a focus on uncrewed systems, counter-drone capabilities, and AI integration. RRS chief executive Kevin Toderel added that the partnership allows the company to "build these systems in Canada and work with Orqa to increase capabilities and act as a supply chain and software development partner, bringing Canadian IP to the world."
