Orqa
Croatian drone and FPV equipment manufacturer turned defense contractor.
Orqa is a Croatian company based in Osijek that makes drone systems and first-person view (FPV) gear. Starting in the 2020s, it became a major defense contractor in Croatia and grew its production and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Founded in late 2018 by Srđan Kovačević, Ivan Jelušić, and Vlatko Matijević, Orqa first released the FPV.One goggles for consumer drone pilots, claiming better specs than rivals. It also began making racing drones around the same time. In 2023, it bought ImmersionRC, a Swiss FPV electronics maker. That May, a third-party software issue—blamed on either an unpaid license or ransomware—bricked some of its goggles. In 2024, Lightspeed Venture Partners invested $5.8 million. Orqa then partnered with Baykar to fit its FPV drones onto Baykar Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, and with DOK-ING to develop manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) tech for dual use.
In 2025, Orqa was reported as a U.S. Department of Defense supplier, but purchases stopped after a Chinese-made radio module was found in its drones. The CEO said production of that module had since moved in-house. The Croatian Army ordered €10 million worth of FPV MRM-2 Interceptor drones, which were also bought for Ukraine’s armed forces. That year, Orqa boosted its Osijek factory capacity to 280,000 drones annually and launched a Global Manufacturing Partnership Program aiming for a million drones per year with global partners. In 2026, it signed cooperation deals with firms in Qatar, Ukraine, the U.S., and Canada. With By Light Professional IT Services, it formed Orqa US, a spinoff running localized U.S. production in a 17,000-square-meter facility in Port Orange, Florida. In June 2026, Orqa unveiled the MRM2-10AI, a hybrid drone using fiber optic cables and radio control (its “IRONghost” system), with onboard AI and image-based navigation that switches between control methods based on battlefield disruption.
Quick Facts
- Founders
- Ivan Jelušić · Srđan Kovačević · Vlatko Matijević
- Area Served
- Global
- Key People
- Srđan Kovačević (CEO)
- Industry
- Defense / Technology
- Products
- Unmanned aerial vehicles First-person view goggles and electronics
- Revenue
- €24.16 million (2025)
- Num Employees
- 127 (2025)
- Hq Location City
- Osijek
- Hq Location Country
- Croatia
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Orqa was founded by the trio Srđan Kovačević, Ivan Jelušić and Vlatko Matijević in late 2018. The company's initial product were the FPV.One goggles, released to the consumer market, intended for piloting drones, and marketed as having better specifications than its competitors. Around the same time, it also began producing drones for racing purposes.
In 2023, Orqa acquired ImmersionRC, a Swiss producer of FPV electronics. During May of the same year, the company was involved in an incident, where its FPV goggles were bricked as a result of a third-party software issue, claimed as a result of either an unpaid license, or ransomware. In 2024, it received a $5.8 million investment from Lightspeed Venture Partners. It entered into a partnership with Baykar, where the companies plan to integrate Orqa's FPV drones to be carried by Baykar Bayraktar TB2 UAV. It also partnered with DOK-ING in developing manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies for dual-use applications.
In 2025, it was reported that it was a supplier of drones for the United States Department of Defense, however the purchases from the company were halted after it was discovered that one radio module contained within the drones had been manufactured in China. The CEO stated that the manufacturing of the module had been moved in-house in the meantime. The Croatian Army ordered FPV MRM-2 Interceptor drones for €10 million. The drones were also purchased to be used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Reader's Guide
Orqa's significance lies in its rapid transition from a consumer FPV goggles and racing drone startup to a notable defense contractor, particularly within Croatia and internationally. The company's expansion into defense is marked by partnerships with major firms like Baykar and DOK-ING, and by supplying drones to the United States Department of Defense, albeit with a temporary halt due to a Chinese-made radio module. Its production capacity grew to 280,000 drones annually by 2025, with a Global Manufacturing Partnership Program aiming for a million drones per year through cooperation with partners in Qatar, Ukraine, the US, and Canada. The establishment of Orqa US and a 17,000 square metre facility in Port Orange, Florida, underscores its push for localized US production. The unveiling of the MRM2-10AI hybrid drone in June 2026, featuring fiber optic and radio control with onboard AI, highlights its technological ambitions. The company's legacy is tied to its dual-use products and its role in equipping the Croatian Army and Ukrainian Armed Forces, reflecting the growing importance of FPV drones in modern warfare.
Did You Know?
- The Croatian Army ordered FPV MRM-2 Interceptor drones from Orqa for €10 million in 2025.
- Orqa's MRM2-10AI drone, unveiled in June 2026, can switch between fiber optic and radio control based on battlefield conditions.
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