> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 7 Women Shaping Defense Tech in Central and Eastern Europe (2026) - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/7-women-shaping-defense-tech-in-central-and-eastern-europe-2026/ - Published: 2026-11-03T10:15:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T10:14:59.000Z - Description: Meet seven women shaping defense technology across Central and Eastern Europe in 2026, from Ukrainian missile manufacturing to Czech autonomous drones, Estonian counter-UAS systems and Austrian defense AI. - Author: Daniel Opoku - Tags: Women in Defense, Defense Tech, CEE, Defense Industry Central and Eastern Europe is emerging as a major center of defense technology innovation, with companies across the region developing autonomous drones, counter-UAS systems, military software and advanced weapons. Behind several of these businesses are women entrepreneurs and executives who are helping turn engineering research and battlefield experience into commercial defense capabilities. The war in Ukraine has accelerated this transformation, creating demand for technologies that can be developed, tested and manufactured more quickly than traditional military equipment. At the same time, companies in countries such as Estonia, Czechia, Poland and Austria are attracting investment, expanding production and building partnerships with international defense customers. The following seven women are helping shape different parts of this industry. Their businesses range from established missile and drone manufacturers to younger startups developing autonomous navigation, battlefield intelligence and protection against unmanned aircraft. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-2026-08-08-at-00.00.08.png) Iryna Terekh, CEO of Fire Point, Ukraine (Photo credit: M. Zaitsev) ## 1\. Iryna Terekh | Fire Point, Ukraine **Defense technology: Long-range strike drones, cruise missiles and missile systems** Iryna Terekh is the CEO and chief technology officer of Fire Point, the Ukrainian defense manufacturer behind the FP-1 and FP-2 long-range strike drones and the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. Her path into the defense industry began outside military technology. Trained in architecture and previously involved in furniture and industrial production, she joined Fire Point in 2023 and helped develop the manufacturing capabilities needed to produce weapons at scale. Fire Point has since become one of Ukraine's most prominent private weapons manufacturers. Its operations span multiple production facilities, with thousands of employees working on unmanned aircraft, missiles and associated technologies. Terekh has played a central role in translating engineering designs into serial production while maintaining operations under wartime conditions. The company's ambitions have also expanded beyond long-range strike drones. In October 2026, Terekh confirmed that Fire Point's FP-7 tactical ballistic missile had seen its first combat use, while the longer-range FP-9 remained under development. The company is also pursuing the Freyja interceptor project, intended to contribute to Ukraine's future air defense capabilities. Fire Point illustrates how Ukrainian manufacturers have adapted civilian industrial expertise to military production. Terekh's role has attracted international attention not only because of the company's products, but also because of the speed with which it has developed its manufacturing organization. [Read AdriaDefense's earlier profile of Iryna Terekh](https://www.adriadefense.com/fire-point-ceo-from-architect-to-ukraines-missile-builder/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/1772549929414.jpeg) Viktoriia Yaremchuk, co-founder and CEO of Farsight Vision. Credit: Viktoriia Yaremchuk LinkedIn page ## 2\. Viktoriia Yaremchuk | Farsight Vision, Ukraine and Estonia **Defense technology: Geospatial intelligence, artificial intelligence and battlefield autonomy** Viktoriia Yaremchuk is the co-founder and CEO of Farsight Vision, a Ukrainian-Estonian defense software company developing technologies that convert drone imagery and geospatial data into actionable battlefield intelligence. Founded in 2023, the company initially focused on generating detailed three-dimensional terrain models and has since expanded toward software supporting autonomous systems, navigation and military decision-making. Farsight Vision's technology is used by Ukrainian forces to improve situational awareness and mission planning. Its software helps process visual information into digital terrain representations that military personnel and robotic systems can use to understand their operating environments. The company is also developing tools intended to support autonomous navigation when satellite positioning or conventional communications are unreliable. In February 2026, Farsight Vision secured a €7.2 million seed funding round backed by Axon Enterprise, Estonia's SmartCap Defence Fund and several European investors. Estonia contributed €2 million through its state-backed defense investment program as part of that round, supporting the company's expansion and further technology development. Yaremchuk has also highlighted the challenges associated with military software procurement, including the difficulty of integrating software licenses and regularly updated digital products into traditional defense acquisition systems. Her company represents a growing segment of European defense technology where the value of a system increasingly depends on software, data processing and integration rather than hardware alone. Farsight Vision was also [selected as a finalist for DIGITALEUROPE's 2026 Future Unicorn Awards](https://www.adriadefense.com/europe-picks-seven-tech-scale-up-finalists-for-digitaleuropes-2026-future-unicorn-awards/), as previously reported by AdriaDefense. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/katerinaberankova-1900x1252.jpg.webp) Kateřina Beránková is a co-founder of TRL Drones and founder of AWEC Group. Credit: Kateřina Beránková ## 3\. Kateřina Beránková | TRL Drones, Czech Republic **Defense technology: Autonomous interceptor drones, counter-UAS and integrated defense systems** Kateřina Beránková is a co-founder of TRL Drones, a Czech company developing unmanned aircraft and counter-drone technologies. She is also the founder and owner of AWEC Group, an industrial business with experience in automotive manufacturing and engineering. Her move into unmanned systems reflects the growing role of established Central European manufacturing expertise in the defense technology market. TRL Drones works on autonomous aircraft and interceptor systems intended to address the increasing threat posed by hostile unmanned platforms. In March 2026, the company introduced a Ground Control Station designed to combine sensor information, threat assessment and autonomous interceptor drones into an integrated counter-UAS architecture. The system is intended to support physical interception where electronic countermeasures alone may not be effective. The company operates within a broader Czech technology ecosystem that includes TRL Space and organizations working on satellite systems, software and advanced engineering. In October 2026, the group presented a defense cooperation model through TRL Defense, bringing together satellite-derived information, unmanned systems and local production capabilities. Beránková has emphasized the importance of higher-value engineering and specialized production for Czech industry. Her involvement in TRL Drones connects conventional manufacturing experience with the development of autonomous defense systems, an area receiving increasing attention from European armed forces and infrastructure operators. AdriaDefense previously covered [TRL Drones' cooperation with U.S.-based AdlerAerospace on the TALOS interceptor drone program](https://www.adriadefense.com/u-s-and-czech-firms-advance-talos-interceptor-drone-program/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-2026-11-02-at-20.48.54.png) Věra Sasková is the co-founder and CEO of Fly4Future. Credit: Věra Sasková LinkedIn page. ## 4\. Věra Sasková | Fly4Future, Czech Republic **Defense technology: Autonomous drones, robotic swarms and GNSS-independent navigation** Věra Sasková is the co-founder and CEO of Fly4Future, a Czech company specializing in autonomous unmanned aircraft and multi-robot systems. The business emerged from research conducted at the Czech Technical University in Prague, where her co-founder Martin Saska leads research in robotics and autonomous aerial systems. Fly4Future develops aircraft capable of performing missions with limited external control, including navigation in environments where GPS, cellular networks or conventional radio links are unavailable. Its technologies cover autonomous flight, coordinated drone operations, industrial inspection and security applications. The company has also been developing capabilities for operating multiple drones together, drawing on research into robotics and coordinated movement. In 2026, Sasková outlined plans to expand manufacturing and develop a stronger European supply chain for critical drone components. Rather than relying entirely on imported aircraft, Fly4Future is working toward greater control over electronics, hardware integration and autonomous flight software. The company is also involved in the counter-drone sector through its 24% ownership stake in EAGLE.ONE, a Czech developer of autonomous drone interception technology. Fly4Future's approach illustrates how university research can be developed into industrial products. Its portfolio extends beyond military applications, but the underlying technologies, particularly navigation without satellite signals and autonomous cooperation between aircraft, are increasingly relevant to defense customers operating in electronically contested environments. Sasková's role combines business development, industrial expansion and the commercialization of research-intensive technologies, making Fly4Future part of a wider effort to establish European alternatives in the unmanned systems market. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-2026-11-02-at-20.51.26.png) Gerda-Annika Laager, co-founder and CEO of Thistle. Credit: LinkedIn, Gerda-Annika Laager ## 5\. Gerda-Annika Laager | Thistle, Estonia **Defense technology: Counter-FPV systems, robotic weapon stations and autonomous targeting** Gerda-Annika Laager is the co-founder and CEO of Thistle, an Estonian defense technology startup developing short-range protection systems against first-person-view (FPV) drones. Founded in 2024, the company focuses on one of the most pressing tactical challenges identified during the war in Ukraine: protecting soldiers, vehicles and critical equipment against relatively inexpensive attack drones. Thistle's principal development, Thistle Shield, combines electro-optical sensing, software-based target tracking and a robotic weapon station. The system is designed to detect incoming drones, calculate an interception solution and support engagement using weapons already available to military units. According to the company, detection and aiming functions can operate automatically, while a human operator retains authority over the decision to fire. The company has reported live-fire testing and early commercial interest, although its publicly disclosed development milestones should not be interpreted as evidence of widespread operational deployment. Thistle has participated in defense innovation programs, including Estonia's Defence Business Lab, and has received public research and development support. Estonian technology park Tehnopol reported that the company had secured its first pre-sale contract in 2025. Laager has represented Thistle at European defense technology events and participated in discussions on the commercialization of military innovation. Her company's approach reflects a broader shift toward lower-cost counter-drone capabilities that can complement conventional air defense systems rather than replace them. Estonia has been expanding its domestic counter-UAS capabilities, with [AdriaDefense reporting on the deployment of a new counter-drone network along the country's Russian border](https://www.adriadefense.com/estonia-begins-deploying-counter-drone-network-along-russian-border/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/1781785853447.jpeg) Justyna Siekierczak, co-founder and CEO of aeroMind. Credit: LinkedIn, Justyna Siekierczak. ## 6\. Justyna Siekierczak | aeroMind, Poland **Defense technology: Unmanned aircraft integration, counter-drone systems and thermal camouflage** Justyna Siekierczak is the co-founder and CEO of aeroMind, a Polish company specializing in unmanned aircraft, sensors and related technological solutions. She also serves as vice president of the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems, an industry organization involved in promoting the development and adoption of unmanned technologies. Unlike manufacturers focused on a single aircraft platform, aeroMind operates primarily as a supplier, distributor and systems integrator. Its activities include the delivery and integration of drones, surveillance sensors, software and counter-UAS technologies for public institutions, security organizations and industrial customers. The company is listed on Poland's official defense industry portal, which identifies its activities in military reconnaissance, unmanned aircraft and counter-drone solutions. aeroMind has also developed and commercialized specialized applications for unmanned systems. Its INVISI-TEC IR thermal camouflage solution received recognition in the Innovative Product category during Poland's MSPO defense exhibition in 2022\. The technology is intended to reduce the thermal visibility of personnel and equipment, an increasingly important consideration as thermal sensors become more widely used by reconnaissance and attack drones. Siekierczak's work demonstrates the importance of companies connecting defense technology manufacturers with end users. Equipment integration, training, maintenance and access to specialized sensors can be as important to operational adoption as the development of the aircraft themselves. Through aeroMind and her industry association role, Siekierczak is involved in both the commercial deployment of unmanned technologies and the wider development of Poland's drone sector. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/27/9827e0e3-b01e-4517-a907-dbdd380bcbf0/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-2026-11-02-at-21.00.58-1.png) Daria Siedykh, co-founder and shareholder of dForce Technologies. Credit: LinkedIn, Daria Siedykh. ## 7\. Daria Siedykh | dForce Technologies, Austria and Ukraine **Defense technology: AI-powered autonomous navigation and software for GNSS-denied environments** Daria Siedykh is a co-founder and shareholder of dForce Technologies, an Austria-based company developing artificial intelligence software for autonomous unmanned systems. The company combines Ukrainian engineering experience with Austria's technology and startup ecosystem, focusing on software intended to enable autonomous operations when conventional navigation and communication signals are unavailable. dForce is developing software modules that can be integrated into different unmanned platforms rather than relying on a single proprietary drone design. Its technology is intended to support autonomous navigation in GNSS-denied environments, including situations where satellite signals are jammed, disrupted or unavailable. The company identifies military applications alongside potential uses in emergency response, industrial inspection and critical infrastructure monitoring. The technology originated from work undertaken by Ukrainian engineer and dForce co-founder Vitalii Yehorov. Siedykh was involved in the company's earlier defense technology activities and subsequent international business development. In Austria, the business has worked with local technology partners and startup support organizations to develop its software for commercial and defense applications. In 2026, Austria Wirtschaftsservice supported dForce through its aws Seedfinancing Deep Tech program. The funding is intended to advance the company's AI technology toward market-ready and certifiable software modules while supporting testing infrastructure, product development and international commercialization. The company's development reflects a wider trend in European defense technology: applying experience from Ukraine's electronically contested battlefield to autonomous systems designed for international markets. Siedykh represents the business and international partnership side of that transition, while Yehorov serves as the company's CEO and leads its technical development. ## From Battlefield Innovation to European Industrial Growth The companies led or co-founded by these seven women occupy different positions within Europe's defense technology industry. Fire Point manufactures strike weapons at scale, Farsight Vision develops battlefield intelligence software, and TRL Drones and Thistle are addressing the demand for new counter-drone capabilities. Fly4Future and dForce focus on autonomous systems and navigation, while aeroMind connects specialized technologies with military and security customers. Their businesses also reflect different stages of industrial development. Some have secured major investment rounds or established manufacturing operations, while others remain in the process of validating products, expanding production or securing initial customers. These distinctions matter in a sector where a successful prototype, a military trial and a confirmed procurement contract represent different levels of commercial and operational maturity. A common challenge is the transition from promising technology to reliable, repeatable delivery. European defense customers increasingly require systems that can be manufactured at scale, integrated with existing equipment, maintained throughout their service lives and adapted to evolving threats. For Central and Eastern Europe's defense industry, the significance of these companies extends beyond individual products. They are helping establish regional expertise in autonomous systems, military software, advanced manufacturing and counter-drone technology, while creating opportunities for cooperation with larger European and international defense organizations. The seven women profiled here are part of that industrial transformation, bringing experience from engineering, entrepreneurship, manufacturing and software into a defense market undergoing rapid technological change.