Ukrainian defense technology company Oko Camera has established a new operation in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, as it looks to expand European production, strengthen its supply chain and develop new thermal imaging systems for drones and robotic platforms.
The company, which has manufactured combat thermal cameras since 2022, plans to establish production facilities in the Netherlands and reach an annual output of 100,000 cameras by the end of 2027. The equipment will be supplied to Ukraine to support its defense requirements.
“Opening our Dutch entity is the next logical step toward our overarching mission: Ukraine’s victory,” said Denys Nikolayenko, CEO and co-founder of Oko Camera. “A European presence unlocks strategic industrial partnerships, top-tier engineering talent, and institutional investment, while securing a long-term planning horizon.”
Oko Camera has been developing its Dutch operations since April 2026, focusing on sales, government and commercial partnerships, customer support and research into photonics and microelectronics. The formal launch establishes a European base for the company’s manufacturing and research activities.
The expansion also supports Oko Camera’s efforts to develop a defense electronics supply chain independent of China. Reducing dependence on Chinese electronics has become an important consideration for European defense manufacturers, particularly as demand for drones, counter-drone systems and autonomous weapons continues to grow.
The company currently produces two camera families. Oko Core is designed for demanding combat environments, including systems exposed to significant shock and vibration. Its applications include remotely operated weapon stations for air defense and ground-based combat robots.
Oko Pro focuses on computer vision applications, combining low-latency imaging with onboard video processing. It is designed for counter-drone systems, anti-FPV weapon stations and autonomous navigation.
Oko Camera also plans to introduce two additional product lines in 2027.
The Oko S series, scheduled for the first quarter, will target reconnaissance drones and introduce the company’s first camera designed around size, weight, power and cost requirements, using a 12-micron sensor.
During the first half of 2027, the company expects to introduce Oko HD, a higher-resolution camera series offering 1280×1024 imaging. According to Oko Camera, the new sensors will provide four times the pixel count of its existing Core and Pro products, extending potential target detection ranges.
The Eindhoven operation will support research into advanced optics and photonics.
“With modern computing power and algorithms, we can now simulate and calculate complex photonic structures in viable timeframes, a milestone researchers have chased for the past 60 years,” said Yevhen Syvachenko, CTO and co-founder of Oko Camera. “Our mission is to turn this breakthrough into field-ready products.”
Oko Camera already maintains research relationships with several Ukrainian universities, including Kyiv Aviation Institute, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Kyiv School of Economics and Lviv Polytechnic.
As of November 2026, the company employs approximately 100 specialists across Ukraine and other European countries. If it meets its target of 100,000 cameras annually, Oko Camera would substantially increase its capacity to supply thermal imaging equipment for the growing market in military drones, robotic weapons and autonomous defense systems.
