The American AIRO Group Holdings Inc. and the Ukrainian company Nord Drone Group LLC (NDG) have signed a final agreement to establish AIRO Nord-Drone, LLC, a transatlantic defense joint venture that will meet the needs of key defense industry markets, including Ukraine, the US, and NATO countries.
According to the press release, the joint venture will combine AIRO’s manufacturing and procurement expertise in the US with battle-tested technologies and European manufacturing capabilities.
“Our partnership with AIRO creates a powerful platform for the distribution of our battle-tested technologies in the service of the US and NATO armed forces,” said NDG CEO Yevgeny Kotukh in the press release.
The Nord-Drone group of companies currently produces approximately 4,000 drones per month, including FPV strike units, with the potential to increase production to 25,000 units, long-endurance munitions, and multi-role bombers, with the possibility of scaling, supported by established production capacities and relationships in the defense sector.
Under the proposed structure, AIRO will provide oversight of manufacturing, research and development, and expertise in government procurement, while Nord Drone will provide its own technology, manufacturing capabilities, and established connections in the defense sector. This collaboration will integrate Nord Drone’s large-scale, battle-proven platforms with the RQ-35 Heidrun 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 compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and other conditions precedent set forth in the definitive agreement.
AIRO Group, Nord-Drone Group, unmanned aerial vehicle
