MyDefence picks Oklahoma City for counter‑drone R&D and production

OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — MyDefence, a counter‑drone company with roots in Denmark, has established a North American R&D and manufacturing presence in Oklahoma City. North American President Bill Ostrowski said the choice was driven by defense proximity, talent density, and a welcoming business climate.

“Three things stood out: proximity to Fort Sill, the presence of Tinker Air Force Base, and being co‑located with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University,” Ostrowski said. “Local and state leaders have been very supportive, and Oklahoma City’s central location makes it easy to reach both coasts.”

The company formally opened the site on Feb. 26, establishing domestic production for its counter‑UAS systems. “This facility strengthens America’s defense industrial base and supports the U.S. Army,” Ostrowski said. “Building in the United States means our military, National Guard and homeland‑security partners have reliable, plug‑and‑play, mission‑ready counter‑drone capabilities when and where they need them.”

Why Oklahoma now

Ostrowski said Oklahoma’s research ecosystem will help MyDefence iterate quickly in a fast‑changing threat environment. “Counter‑drone work is inherently iterative. Universities explore what’s next, and we turn that research into products. It’s a symbiotic relationship.”

The company is also pursuing collaborations tied to public safety and airspace management, including a state counter‑UAS initiative for first responders and potential work with the FAA’s Oklahoma operations and the Department of Homeland Security on domestic capabilities.

DOD ties and testing

Positioning in Oklahoma helps with defense customers and evaluations, Ostrowski said, citing Army counter‑UAS activity associated with Fort Sill and testing relationships linked to Oklahoma State University. “We’re working with them on testing and evaluation of our gear, building collaborative relationships at the local, state and federal levels.”

Hiring plan and roles

MyDefence is hiring across engineering and skilled production. “We’re bringing in mid‑salary roles around the $100,000 range, plus technical assemblers and engineers,” Ostrowski said. “We’re starting with about 10 positions, aiming for at least 20 by mid‑year and potentially close to 50 by year‑end, depending on performance.”

He said proximity to Tinker AFB and the metro’s supply‑chain base are key to scaling. “There’s a strong density of logisticians, supply‑chain managers and technical talent here—and the training pipeline is in place from entry level to leadership.” MyDefence also plans to coordinate with Rose State College, SWOSU and other schools on job‑specific training as production ramps.

Market outlook: autonomy up, protection keeps pace

Ostrowski expects demand for counter‑UAS to track broader adoption of autonomous systems. “As autonomy and robotics expand, protection has to grow at the same pace. It’s similar to cybersecurity—the more connected we get, the more vital the safeguards become.”

Community reception and next steps

Ostrowski called the Oklahoma welcome “exceptional,” citing support from regional partners on real estate, workforce and industry connections. “We picked a really good spot, and we’re looking forward to growing with the state.”