President Volodymyr Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb look on as defense tech representatives sign a joint venture agreement in Kyiv on Sunday.
Ukrainian defense-tech companies General Cherry and Tencore have signed agreements with Finnish manufacturers to launch drone and ground-robot production in Finland, according to statements from the companies.
General Cherry signed a memorandum of intent with Finland’s Patria to co-produce strike drones and jointly develop unmanned maritime and ground-robotic systems. Meanwhile, Tencore and Finland’s Insta are moving ahead with a joint venture to manufacture TerMIT 2.0 ground robots, with a first order of 320 units for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
The documents were signed as President Volodymyr Zelensky met Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Kyiv on Sunday for a roundtable on defense-industrial cooperation between the two countries - part of a broader effort to move Ukrainian drone and robotics manufacturing onto NATO territory while scaling output for the front.
“Our companies have signed documents on developing and manufacturing drones in Finland for the needs of Ukraine and Europe, building capacity in unmanned maritime systems, and setting up an enterprise to produce ground robotic systems,” Zelensky said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb attend a roundtable with Ukrainian and Finnish defense-industry representatives in Kyiv on Aug. 23, ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
The Tencore-Insta partnership dates back to Feb. 24, 2026, when the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding under the Build with Ukraine initiative. A Joint Statement of Intent formalizing the companies’ plan to build a joint venture in Finland was revealed on Sunday, with the 320 TerMIT 2.0 units now attached to the partnership.
Previously, Airlogix and Finland’s Innokas had signed a letter of intent to build unmanned systems production capacity in Finland, also under the Build with Ukraine initiative.
What’s inside the General Cherry and Patria deal
General Cherry is a Ukrainian maker of strike FPV drones, fiber-optic drones, interceptor drones, and fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Patria is a Finnish defense company with more than a century in the industry.
Under the agreement, the two companies plan to launch production of General Cherry’s drones in Finland and jointly develop unmanned systems for the defense needs of Ukraine and Europe.
“Unmanned defense systems will play a central role in the future of defense,” the press release stated, quoting Mikko Leino, Patria’s executive vice president.
According to General Cherry’s co-founder Stanislav Hryshyn, the company’s experience operating and continuously upgrading unmanned systems under the conditions of Russia’s war against Ukraine, combined with Patria’s production and technological capacity, could help build up the defense capabilities of European countries.
General Cherry said launching production in Finland would let it scale Ukrainian technology through the manufacturing infrastructure of one of northern Europe’s largest defense producers.
“Patria has worked in the defense industry for more than 100 years, owns half of Nammo’s shares, and produces equipment for ground, maritime, and air systems across Europe. Now, our experience in mass drone production for real combat tasks, and rapid refinement cycles based on frontline data, is being added to that infrastructure,” General Cherry wrote.
The agreement covers localizing production of Ukrainian unmanned technology in Finland and its further development using the Finnish industrial base.
What’s inside Tencore and Insta deal
Tencore and Insta plan to establish a Ukrainian-Finnish joint venture to produce ground robotic systems.
Under the Build with Ukraine initiative, the companies plan to deploy production of Ukrainian robotic platforms in Finland. The first practical result of the partnership is expected to be the manufacture of 320 TerMIT 2.0 complexes for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
On Sunday, Tencore and Insta signed a Joint Statement of Intent, formalizing the companies’ plan to establish a joint venture on Finnish territory. The signing took place with the participation of the presidents of Ukraine and Finland.
Production is expected to be organized under a distributed model, involving several Finnish industrial and manufacturing partners - an approach meant to foster local cooperation and draw on a broad network of Finnish engineering and manufacturing expertise.
“This partnership marks a shift from the traditional model of supporting Ukraine toward joint production of defense technologies. It will create additional protected production capacity outside Ukraine, increase the volume of robotic systems supplied to our troops, and, at the same time, deepen defense-industrial cooperation with Finland,” Tencore wrote.
Tencore and Insta signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 24, 2026, laying the groundwork for cooperation under Build with Ukraine.
Earlier deal – Airlogix and Innokas
Airlogix and Finnish technology company Innokas signed a letter of intent to establish manufacturing capabilities in Finland for the production of unmanned systems based on Airlogix’s Ukrainian technology, Airlogix wrote in a LinkedIn post.
The partnership is being developed under the Build with Ukraine initiative, with the goal of scaling production of Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems in Europe and increasing supply volumes for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
The letter of intent was signed during DALO Industry Days in Denmark by Airlogix Chief Financial Officer Oleksandr Androshchuk and Innokas Chief Executive Officer Janne Kostamo.
The next stage will focus on developing the manufacturing model in Finland and establishing a joint venture.