Both companies are part of CSG, the global industrial and technology group. The project is part of CSG’s wider plan to build an international propulsion manufacturing network through AviaNera Technologies.
Firecrest Aerospace will bring AviaNera’s production model to the U.S. market. The company plans to build advanced manufacturing capability in Stevens Point for turbojet and turbofan engines.
The engines are intended for unmanned aircraft systems, precision defense systems, loitering munitions and other next-generation applications. CSG said the project includes an initial investment of up to $15 million and will be delivered in phases.
The first phase will focus on assembly, integration and testing for U.S. customers. Later stages are expected to expand into full-scale serial production, engineering and additional product development.
Initial assembly is expected to begin within months, with full-scale production planned for 2027. As the operation matures, output is expected to rise from hundreds of propulsion units to several thousand engines a year.
“Unmanned systems will fundamentally shape the future of the defence industry and the nature of modern military operations,” said Michal Strnad, CEO and Chairman of the Board of CSG. “CSG is therefore building long-term capabilities in this area, from propulsion units and other key subsystems to serial production.”
“AviaNera confirms our ambition to become a major international player in technologies for unmanned platforms, and the Firecrest Aerospace project in Wisconsin is an important part of that,” Strnad said. The project places the United States inside CSG’s broader push into propulsion, autonomous systems, electronics and systems integration.
“This investment marks an important step in building a strong U.S.-based manufacturing capability for advanced propulsion units,” said Paul Lemke, CEO of CSE USA. “We are combining a rapid project launch with a long-term vision to scale production in the United States and support the evolving needs of U.S. and allied customers.”
“It is both professionally and personally meaningful for me to bring this project to Central Wisconsin, where I have deep personal roots,” Lemke said. CSG said the Wisconsin site was selected for industrial capacity, a skilled workforce and direct access to aviation infrastructure.
The project will include dedicated facilities at Stevens Point Municipal Airport. Those facilities will support engine integration, ground testing and flight validation under real-world conditions.
“Wisconsin continues to attract high-impact global investments that strengthen our economy and create opportunities for our workforce,” said John W. Miller, Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. “This project reinforces Wisconsin’s position as a center for advanced manufacturing and aerospace innovation.”
The Wisconsin operation will become part of AviaNera Technologies’ international manufacturing network. That network links research and development in Serbia with production capability in key markets, including India and the United Arab Emirates.
The network will also include a reference manufacturing center in the Czech Republic. CSG said the goal is to combine proprietary technology, standardized manufacturing and production close to customers in fast-growing unmanned systems markets.
“At AviaNera, we are building production from the outset as a scalable industrial system, not as traditional low-volume aerospace engine manufacturing,” said Pavel Čechal, CEO of AviaNera Technologies. “Our priorities are digitalized processes, top-tier quality, automated inspection steps and the ability to rapidly transfer engineering solutions into serial production.”
“The Czech Republic remains an important part of AviaNera’s manufacturing and technology base in this model. The Wisconsin project builds on this concept and will allow us to bring proven processes closer to customers in the U.S. market,” Čechal said.
CSG established AviaNera Technologies in 2025 as a new pillar of its unmanned systems business. The company focuses on turbojet, turbofan and other propulsion units for unmanned platforms, guided missiles, target drones and advanced aerospace and defense applications.
CSG does not present AviaNera as a traditional drone maker. It describes the company as a technology business focused on propulsion, a subsystem that affects performance, range, reliability and cost efficiency.
A major step in AviaNera’s development was CSG’s acquisition of a majority stake in Serbia-based MUST Solutions. The Belgrade company specializes in advanced propulsion units for higher-category unmanned platforms and operates its own R&D center, design office and prototyping workshop.
Within AviaNera, those Serbian capabilities form the research and development center for new engine generations. The Czech Republic complements that role through serial production, process engineering, prototyping and customer-specific modifications.
AviaNera’s model is based on shifting from traditional low-volume aerospace engine manufacturing to modern serial production. The company plans to use automation, digital production management, automated inspection, error-proof manufacturing and standardized processes.
CSG said the objective is repeatable quality, rapid scaling and cost-efficient production. The broader network is intended to improve supply-chain resilience and place manufacturing closer to customers as demand for unmanned systems grows.
