Best UAV Contract Manufacturers for U.S. Drone OEMs (2026)
The best UAV contract manufacturers for U.S. drone OEMs in 2026 are Aerora Technology, Jabil, Kratos, Kitron, Coretronic Intelligent Robotics (CIRC) and ModalAI. Some build in the U.S. and some build abroad, so each entry below says exactly where the manufacturing happens.
Where a drone is built now shapes whether it can be sold in the U.S. at all. Since December 2025, foreign-produced drones and drone critical components need an FCC exemption to get new equipment authorizations. Since 3 September 2026, imported drones and many components also face Section 232 tariffs. Neither rule makes offshore manufacturing a bad choice, but both belong in the contract before the first purchase order.
How we chose
Quick comparison
| Company | HQ | Best for | Where it builds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerora Technology | Santa Clara, CA | ODM from design to volume | Vietnam |
| Jabil | St. Petersburg, FL | High-volume electronics and box build | Five ITAR sites in three countries |
| Kratos | San Diego, CA | Build-to-print unmanned aircraft | Sacramento, CA |
| Kitron | Norway | UAV electronics and optical assemblies | Europe, U.S. (Pennsylvania) and Asia |
| CIRC | Taiwan | Taiwan-built drone ODM | Taiwan |
| ModalAI | San Diego, CA | U.S.-built flight computers and custom boards | Southern California |
Aerora Technology
Aerora is a Santa Clara ODM. It pairs U.S. program management, architecture, design and RMA support with manufacturing in Vietnam, and it manages the supply chain for both. Services include design and development, system integration, tooling design and DFM, NPI, rapid prototyping, EVT/DVT/PVT, third-party and regulatory compliance testing, vendor management and contract manufacturing under a certified quality system.
Aerora also brings its own building blocks: ADRC flight and gimbal control, FOC ESCs, motors from the 08 to the 95 series, and custom LiPo, Li-ion and LiFePO4 packs tested in-house. It builds to NDAA (FY2020 §848 / FY2024 §1823-1826) sourcing requirements. See ODM services and drone solutions.
Worth checking: Hardware is built in Vietnam, so confirm each product’s FCC authorization and exemption status and its tariff treatment. Aerora is not on the Blue UAS list.
Jabil
Jabil is one of the largest electronics manufacturing services companies in the world, and it has a dedicated drone and UAV practice. It offers full assembly, automated system testing, PCBAs, flight computers, design and prototyping support, RF and vibration testing and cybersecurity integration. Jabil says this work runs at five AS9100D and ITAR-certified sites across three countries. For an OEM that already has a stable design and needs a supplier with global purchasing power, that scale is the main draw.
Worth checking: Jabil does not list which countries those five sites are in, so confirm the build location for your program early, along with volume minimums.
Kratos
Kratos is a San Diego defense contractor that builds unmanned aircraft, including its own target and tactical drones. It also builds aircraft for other companies. In July 2026, Kratos confirmed it will be the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous cargo VTOL at an expanded facility in Sacramento, California, with first production aircraft expected in late 2026. Kratos says it has built its business around moving unmanned aircraft from development into affordable production.
Worth checking: Kratos works on large programs. Ask whether it takes on smaller airframes and what volume makes a program worthwhile.
Kitron
Kitron is a Scandinavian EMS company with operations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, Malaysia, China and the United States. In the U.S., it runs a defense-focused plant in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a second site in nearby Windber. Its drone work is well documented. In January 2025, it announced a contract worth about EUR 30 million in expected 2025 revenue to build advanced optical assemblies for the UAV market at its Czech plant. In March 2026, it announced a EUR 16 million order for counter-drone ground systems.
Worth checking: Kitron builds subsystems and electronics rather than complete airframes. Confirm which site will run your product.
Coretronic Intelligent Robotics (CIRC)
CIRC is a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Coretronic Group. It offers ODM and OEM design and manufacturing for drones, gimbal cameras, ground control stations and autonomous mobile robots. CIRC describes itself as the first Taiwanese drone maker qualified as a vendor to U.S. ODM customers. Its two manufacturing sites have a combined capacity of 54,200 units, and DIGITIMES reports it plans to raise capacity sharply by the end of 2026. Coretronic’s optics background is a real advantage for camera and gimbal payloads.
Worth checking: CIRC builds in Taiwan, so confirm FCC exemption status and Section 232 tariff treatment. Qualifying Taiwan-made products can get a reduced tariff rate.
ModalAI
ModalAI designs and builds autonomy computers, flight controllers and reference drones in San Diego. The San Diego Business Journal reports that it assembles circuit boards in Carlsbad and Santa Ana and programs and tests them in San Diego. It offers custom design services as well as off-the-shelf boards. Its VOXL 2 computer and autopilot runs in hundreds of third-party drone designs. ModalAI is a strong partner for the electronics core of a product even if another firm builds the airframe.
Worth checking: ModalAI builds electronics and reference aircraft, not full-rate airframes for OEMs. Pair it with an airframe manufacturer.
Common questions
What is a UAV contract manufacturer?
A UAV contract manufacturer builds drones or drone subsystems to another company’s design. An ODM goes further: it also designs the product, or large parts of it, and then manufactures it for the OEM’s brand. Many programs use both. They pair an ODM or design partner for architecture with a contract manufacturer for volume production.
Can a drone built in Vietnam or Taiwan be sold in the U.S.?
It can, if it has a valid FCC path. Since 22 December 2025, foreign-produced drones and critical components need an exemption for new FCC authorizations. The exemptions are the Blue UAS list, Buy American domestic end products (through 1 January 2028) and DoW or DHS Conditional Approvals. Section 232 tariffs also apply to imported drones and many components.
What are the Section 232 drone tariffs?
A presidential proclamation dated 13 August 2026 set a 100% tariff on drones over 25 kg, thermal-imaging drones, docking stations and certain critical components. It also set 25% on drones of 25 kg or less. It took effect 3 September 2026. Qualifying products from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the EU are capped at 15%, and those from the UK at 10%.
Does NDAA compliance mean FCC approval?
No. NDAA sourcing rules, such as FY2020 §848 and the American Security Drone Act in the FY2024 NDAA, control what federal agencies can buy and operate. The FCC Covered List controls equipment authorization for everyone. Ask any manufacturer for both. Our guide to NDAA and Blue UAS requirements explains the difference.
Talk to Aerora
If you are weighing a contract manufacturer for your next drone or robotics product, Aerora can scope the design, validation and production plan together. Share your requirements on the contact page, and we will send the FCC, tariff and sourcing details for your product with our proposal. For background, read our guide to the biggest drone supply chain risks or review our ODM services.
Related reading: Best drone engineering firms in California.
Sources (16)
- https://jabil.com/industries/defense-and-aerospace/defense/drones-and-uavs.html
- https://www.kratosdefense.com/newsroom/kratos-to-manufacture-elroy-air-chaparral-autonomous-cargo-aircraft-in-expanded-california-facility
- https://www.kratosdefense.com/contact/locations-kratos
- https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/kratos-selected-by-elroy-air-for-high-chapparal-production-rate/164663.article
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/20/3011928/0/en/Kitron-secures-EUR-30-million-contract-for-advanced-optics-production-for-UAV-and-drone-market.html
- https://evertiq.com/news/2026-03-17-kitron-receives-eur-16-million-order-for-counter-drone-systems
- https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/kitron-expanding-into-somerset-county/
- https://www.coretronic-robotics.com/about
- https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20251029PD230/circ-coretronic-drone-production-taiwan.html
- https://www.sdbj.com/transportation/aerospace/domestic-pedigree-makes-modalais-technology-attractive/
- https://www.modalai.com/pages/about-us
- https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-1086A1.pdf
- https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-761A1.pdf
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/adjusting-imports-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems-and-unmanned-aircraft-systems-components-into-the-united-states/
- https://kpmg.com/us/en/taxnewsflash/news/2026/08/united-states-section-232-tariffs-drones-components.html
- https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.240-1
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