On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Czech company AviaNera, part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), announced plans through its U.S. subsidiary CSE USA to establish an advanced propulsion systems manufacturing facility in central Wisconsin. The project will be developed and operated by Firecrest Aerospace Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CSE USA.
Image: CSG
„This investment marks an important step in building a strong U.S.-based manufacturing capability for advanced propulsion systems,” said Paul Lemke, Chief Executive Officer of CSE USA Inc. „We are combining rapid deployment 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 roots.”
„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 (WEDC), the state’s leading economic development organization. „This project reinforces Wisconsin’s position as a center for advanced manufacturing and aerospace innovation.”
The project represents an initial investment of up to 15 million USD, with further expansion planned, and is expected to create approximately 125 skilled jobs over the next three years. Initial assembly is expected to begin within several months, followed by initial deliveries, while full-scale production is scheduled to commence in 2027.
Project details and strategic context
Firecrest Aerospace will establish advanced manufacturing facilities in Stevens Point, supported by dedicated infrastructure at Stevens Point Municipal Airport for engine integration, ground testing, and flight validation. This purpose-built operating model combines scalable industrial production with direct access to aviation infrastructure, creating an efficient process from manufacturing through testing to flight validation, while retaining the flexibility required for future expansion.
The project will be implemented in phases, beginning with assembly, integration, and testing for U.S. customers, and subsequently expanding to full-scale domestic production, engineering, and product development. As operations grow, annual output is expected to increase from hundreds of propulsion systems to several thousand engines, supporting the requirements of the U.S. government, allied countries, and the commercial aerospace sector.
Firecrest Aerospace will manufacture advanced small turbojet and turbofan engines for unmanned aircraft, precision defense systems, target drones, and other next-generation aerospace applications. The facility is intended to meet growing demand for reliable and affordable propulsion technologies while strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity in a sector critical to U.S. national security and the competitiveness of the aerospace industry.
Stevens Point was selected because of its unique combination of industrial capacity, a highly skilled workforce, and immediate access to dedicated airport infrastructure. Separating manufacturing from flight operations will allow each facility to be optimized for its specific mission while creating an integrated aerospace operating environment capable of supporting future expansion and additional advanced aviation programs.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of CSE USA, Firecrest Aerospace will serve as a dedicated U.S. platform for the development, industrialization, and production of advanced propulsion technologies. The company will leverage the broader capabilities, resources, and access to international markets of CSE USA and CSG Group while building sustainable domestic manufacturing, engineering, testing, and development capabilities in Wisconsin.
The project is being carried out in close cooperation with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the City of Stevens Point, Stevens Point Municipal Airport, and regional economic development partners, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening Wisconsin’s advanced manufacturing economy.
By establishing an integrated manufacturing, testing, and flight-validation ecosystem in central Wisconsin, Firecrest Aerospace will help strengthen the domestic aerospace industrial base, improve supply-chain resilience, and reinforce Stevens Point’s position as an emerging center for advanced aerospace and defense manufacturing for decades to come.
AviaNera Technologies a.s. is a European technology company and a member of CSG’s industrial technology group. It specializes in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of technologies for unmanned aerial systems and other advanced defense and space applications. Building on the Czech Republic’s long-standing aviation tradition, AviaNera aims to become one of the world’s leading technology companies in the unmanned aircraft sector. The company focuses on in-house development, serial production, and the maximum possible vertical integration of key technologies. Its activities draw on expertise in propulsion systems, design, electronics, warheads, and ammunition, further strengthened through close synergies with other CSG companies. The company’s objective is to build an industrial platform capable of developing and manufacturing advanced technologies for unmanned systems, including turbojet engines, turbofan engines, and other propulsion units, while gradually localizing production capabilities in key markets.
CSG has announced plans to establish an advanced propulsion manufacturing facility in Central Wisconsin through Firecrest Aerospace, a joint venture between CSE USA and AviaNera Technologies.
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— CSG (@CSG_global) July 21, 2026
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