US-based AIRO Group Holdings Inc. together with Ukraine’s Nord Drone Group LLC (NDG) have entered into a definitive agreement to create AIRO Nord – Drone, LLC, a transatlantic defence joint venture that will address needs in key defence markets including Ukraine, the US and NATO countries.
According to the release, the joint venture will combine AIRO’s US manufacturing and procurement expertise with proven combat technology and European manufacturing capabilities.
“Our partnership with AIRO creates a powerful platform to distribute our battle-proven technologies in the service of the US and NATO Armed Forces,” NDG CEO Eugene Kotukh said in the release.
Nord – Drone Group now produces approximately 4,000 drones per month, including FPV strike units, with the potential to increase volumes to 25,000 units, long endurance munitions and multi-role bombers, with scalability supported by established manufacturing capabilities and defence relationships.
Under the proposed structure, AIRO will provide manufacturing oversight, research and development and government procurement expertise, while Nord Drone will provide proprietary technology, production facilities and established defence relationships. The collaboration will integrate Nord Drone’s high-volume, combat-proven platforms with Heidrun’s RQ-35 and AIRO’s broad portfolio of unmanned systems.
It is noted that the establishment of the joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions, including fulfilment of relevant regulatory requirements and other pre-conditions set out in the definitive agreement.