Engines become part of Ukraine’s UAV industrial base
Ukrainian company Airlogix and Czech manufacturer PBS Velká Bíteš signed a memorandum to localize production of small turbine engines for unmanned aerial systems in Ukraine. The agreement was signed at Farnborough International Airshow 2026 and is important because engines are one of the key bottlenecks in high-performance UAV production.
The cooperation is expected to begin with assembly of turbine engines and the creation of a certified service center in Ukraine. This would reduce the need to send engines abroad for maintenance and shorten repair cycles for Ukrainian operators. Later stages should expand production and increase the share of Ukrainian components and processes.
Why PBS and Airlogix matter
PBS Velká Bíteš is a European producer of small turbine engines used in drones, aviation and special systems. Airlogix specializes in unmanned aircraft and is known for the GOR reconnaissance UAV. Together, the companies can combine Ukrainian unmanned-system experience with Czech engine technology and certification culture.
The final license agreement is expected later, but the direction is already clear: Ukraine wants not only to buy critical components, but to build the industrial capability to assemble, service and eventually produce more of them locally.
Strategic effect
Localization reduces import dependence, logistics vulnerability and downtime. It creates skilled jobs, trains engineers and makes the UAV sector more resilient. For investors and partners, engine localization is a high-value signal: Ukraine’s drone industry is moving from rapid field innovation toward a deeper manufacturing ecosystem with European technology links.
