30 March 2026
As reported by PBS earlier this month, President Donald Trump stated he didn't want any assistance from Ukrainian with U.S. drone defenses. Going further, he also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "the last person he’d ever ask for help."
Apparently, the American military complex has reversed those thoughts.
On March 30, General Cherry — one of Ukraine's top drone manufacturers — announced it had signed a deal to build FPV drones in the United States, partnering with American tactical solutions company Wilcox Industries.
"We are pleased to have the unique opportunity to build production together, which will manufacture the newest means of defense and striking," said General Cherry co-founder Yaroslav Hryshyn. "First of all, we are focusing on interceptor drones as our flagship product."
Established in September 2023, General Cherry is one of the military technology firms formed out of necessity following Russia's invasion of the country in February 2022.
Interestingly, General Cherry competed in the U.S. Pentagon's "Gauntlet 1" competition at Fort Moore, Georgia—part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Drone Dominance Program that seeks to accelerate manufacturing, acquisition, and technological advancement. The Drone Dominance program is planning to purchase more than 200,000 drones by 2027.
However, after the initial evaluations held early in March 2026, General Cherry was not one of the top 11 companies chosen to build inexpense and disposable next-gen combat drones.
But circumstances have a way of intruding into "best laid plans," and the war in Iran has not only prompted Gulf countries to ask Ukraine for defensive strategies and options, it also appears to have "revised" U.S. thinking on the operational value of Ukrainian drones and their deployment in battle zones.
Although ongoing negotiations with the Ukrainian government have not yet set a confirmed date, it appears General Cherry may soon be building versions of its Bullet interceptor and FPV drones at Wilcox's manufacturing plant in New Hampshire.
Intel on the Bullet Drone
