Ukrainian defense industry is at a pivotal stage where the issue of technological independence is no longer theoretical but a matter of survival. A striking example of this transformation is the company "General Cherehnya," which is actively restructuring its supply chains to minimize dependence on Chinese components.

A Strategic Risk of Global Scale

Yaroslav Gryshin, co-founder of the drone manufacturer, highlighted the industry's main problem in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. In his view, dependence on Chinese components is not just a local issue for Ukraine but a strategic risk for the entire world.

"For now, it's not a problem, but it is a risk that we must minimize by creating our own high-quality components," Gryshin emphasized. This thesis became the starting point for seeking new partners and technologies.

A New Vector: Partnership with Croatia

Instead of continuing to purchase parts in Asia, "General Cherehnya" redirected its efforts toward a European manufacturer. The key partner in this process became the Croatian company ORQA.

The uniqueness of this cooperation lies in the fact that ORQA produces all its components completely without using Chinese parts. Gryshin noted that work in this direction is being carried out very actively and is already bearing fruit:

  • The company is already assembling drones using parts from its Croatian partner.
  • In the near future, the plan is to launch its own production of such parts directly in Ukraine.

Geography of Procurement is Changing

The trend of moving away from China's monopoly is also confirmed at the macro level. In recent years, a gradual "geographical" shift in procurement has been observed. If Beijing was previously an irreplaceable supplier, now part of the orders are flowing to the European Union, the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Within Ukraine, the volume of production of components for the defense industry is also growing. However, experts note that the most complex technologies still remain dependent on imports.

Localization Figures

According to open estimates, last year the share of Chinese components in the design of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles dropped to approximately 38%. Nevertheless, the situation in the industry is heterogeneous and depends significantly on the specific product and manufacturer.

Some Ukrainian companies have already achieved a localization level of up to 90%, demonstrating a high degree of autonomy. At the same time, individual products still depend significantly on foreign supplies, which highlights the need for further development of their own production base.