Airlogix and PBS Plan Turbine Engine Production in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Airlogix and Czech manufacturer PBS Group have agreed to establish local production of small turbine engines for unmanned aircraft. The project will begin with assembly and maintenance capabilities before moving toward deeper manufacturing in Ukraine.
Ukrainian drone manufacturer Airlogix and Czech aerospace company PBS Group have signed a memorandum covering the production of small turbine engines in Ukraine.
The agreement was announced on July 21 at the Farnborough International Airshow. It covers licensed or joint production of PBS engines in Ukraine and the manufacture of PBS-powered Airlogix unmanned aircraft in Czechia for the Ukrainian market.
Airlogix said the localization process will be implemented in stages. The first phase is expected to include an engine assembly facility and a certified service center, followed by a gradual increase in local manufacturing. The companies are also finalizing a licensing agreement for the project.
The planned facility would support the supply and maintenance of propulsion systems for future Airlogix platforms used by Ukraine’s defense forces. Neither company disclosed the engine models involved, planned production volumes, investment value, or a timetable for the start of operations.
The Czech production component is intended to provide Airlogix drones equipped with PBS engines, initially for Ukrainian customers. The arrangement creates a parallel manufacturing structure in Ukraine and Czechia while transferring selected propulsion production and support capabilities closer to operational demand.
Small turbine engines are a critical component for higher-speed unmanned aircraft, including long-range strike platforms, target drones, and interceptor systems. Establishing assembly and servicing capacity inside Ukraine could reduce dependence on complete imported propulsion units and shorten maintenance and replacement cycles.
For PBS, the partnership expands its role in Ukraine’s rapidly growing unmanned systems sector. For Airlogix, access to licensed engine production could provide greater supply-chain control as the company develops new jet-powered platforms.
The agreement also reflects broader Czech-Ukrainian defense-industrial cooperation. Czechia has become an important production and logistics base for equipment supplied to Ukraine, while Ukrainian companies are increasingly pursuing joint manufacturing arrangements with NATO and European Union partners.
