Croatia’s Orqa Raises $14.7M Series A, Expands Toward U.S. Defense Market

Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has raised €12.7 million ($14.7 million) in a Series A funding round aimed at accelerating production and expanding its presence in the United States defense market.

The round was led by Expeditions Ventures, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Taiwania Capital, Aymo, and Radius Capital, according to the company. The capital injection represents one of the larger recent investments in a European small-drone manufacturer focused on military applications.

Orqa said the funding will primarily support its Global Manufacturing Program, an initiative designed to establish an international network of manufacturing partners capable of producing standardized systems based on the company’s drone designs and components.

Alongside the investment announcement, the company confirmed a teaming agreement with Texas-based Red River Army Depot intended to facilitate U.S.-based production and supply chain development. According to the company, the arrangement is expected to support the growing demand from the U.S. defense ecosystem for small unmanned aerial systems and related components.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Osijek, Croatia, Orqa develops first-person-view (FPV) drones and associated electronics, including goggles, flight controllers, radios, and sensors. The company has increasingly positioned itself as a supplier of systems designed to avoid reliance on Chinese components, an issue that has become central to procurement requirements within NATO and U.S. defense programs.

Orqa currently produces several drone platforms, including the MRM1-5 training drone and the MRM2-10 system designed to meet U.S. National Defense Authorization Act compliance requirements and operate in electronically contested environments. The company also markets a commercial platform known as Dream X.

The manufacturer has expanded its production capacity in recent years and reported the ability to produce up to 280,000 drones annually. Its systems have been used in operational environments, including Ukraine, and the company has also secured defense-related contracts, including an order from the Croatian armed forces.

According to the company, the new funding will also support potential acquisitions and further vertical integration of its technology stack, including electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Participation by Taiwania Capital was partly driven by access to semiconductor industry partnerships, the company indicated.

The expansion into the United States reflects a broader trend in the defense technology sector, where European drone manufacturers are seeking closer integration with the U.S. defense industrial base and supply chains.