Irish drone delivery company plans U.S. manufacturing, commercial operations, and more than 1,000 jobs as it begins American expansion
Irish drone delivery company Manna has launched its first full scale metropolitan operation in the United States, selecting Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the base for its American expansion. The company says the move will support commercial drone delivery, establish a U.S. manufacturing presence, and create more than 1,000 jobs over the next three years.
The announcement marks an important step for Manna, which has operated commercial drone delivery services in Europe and has completed nearly 380,000 deliveries worldwide. The company says its Tulsa operation will serve as the foundation for a broader rollout of drone delivery services across the United States.
Tulsa Becomes Manna’s U.S. Headquarters
Manna will establish its central U.S. operational base in Tulsa while expanding across aviation, manufacturing, maintenance, commercial operations, customer support, and other business functions. The company also plans to manufacture drones in Tulsa to support its U.S. growth.
The recruitment effort was led by Tulsa Local Ventures, an initiative of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with Tulsa Innovation Labs.
“This is exactly what it looks like when Oklahoma competes and wins. Manna could have chosen anywhere in the country, and they chose Tulsa because we’ve built a business climate that supports innovation, rewards investment, and moves at the speed of industry,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “This investment means more than 1,000 good-paying jobs for Oklahomans; it puts our state at the forefront of the future of aviation and drone technology.”
Founded in Ireland in 2018, Manna has focused on autonomous delivery of food, groceries, pharmacy products, and household items. Its drones lower packages to customers using a tether rather than landing.
Company Sees U.S. as Largest Growth Market
The Tulsa launch represents Manna’s first large scale metropolitan operation in the United States. While the company will expand its American footprint, it emphasized that its headquarters and core research activities will remain in Ireland.
“This is a proud day for Manna and for innovation,” said Bobby Healy, Founder and CEO of Manna. “We’ve spent years developing one of the world’s most advanced drone delivery platforms in Ireland, and today we’re bringing that technology to the United States. We’ve chosen Tulsa as the base for our next phase of growth — their approach to airspace and aviation is genuinely forward-looking, and the support we’ve had from city officials in enabling our expansion has been first-class. America represents the world’s largest opportunity for drone delivery, and we’re excited about creating more than 1,000 American jobs over the next three years while continuing to invest in our headquarters, our people and our innovation in Ireland.
This isn’t about moving from Ireland — it’s about taking Irish technology to the world.”
The company says customers will receive deliveries in minutes through remotely monitored autonomous aircraft. Orders are lowered to the ground on a tether, allowing deliveries without the drone landing.
Local Aviation Ecosystem Supports Expansion
Manna cited Tulsa’s growing advanced aviation ecosystem as a key reason for selecting the city. Tulsa Innovation Labs has helped position the region as a center for advanced air mobility and autonomous systems.
The organization is working with federal partners on the Secure Autonomy Feedback and Evaluation Testbed, or SAFE-T, initiative. The project aims to provide shared digital infrastructure for airspace awareness, traffic management, and weather monitoring to support commercial drone operations.
“The SAFE-T project will bridge critical gaps in the current testing and regulatory landscape,” said Jennifer Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs. “This technology standardizes safety and risk mitigation to accelerate the safe, nationwide adoption of autonomous systems, helping innovators like Manna scale commercial drone delivery across the United States.”
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols also welcomed the investment.
“Manna Air Delivery’s investment in Tulsa is a testament to our city’s growing reputation as a place where innovation and opportunity thrive,” Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “We’re excited to welcome a company that is creating jobs, advancing new technology, and helping shape the future of our community. We look forward to partnering with Manna as they continue to grow in Tulsa.”
Louie Napoleone, director of business recruitment at Tulsa Local Ventures, said the project reflects the region’s strategy of attracting advanced technology companies.
“As we continue building Tulsa into a leading hub for advanced drone technology and autonomous systems, we identified Manna as an ideal partner to help bring that vision to life,” said Louie Napoleone, director of business recruitment at Tulsa Local Ventures. “Manna’s decision to select Tulsa as the location for its first full-scale U.S. operations and manufacturing hub is a powerful validation of the opportunity to attract global companies to our region. We appreciate the support of The Tulsa Regional Chamber, the City of Tulsa, PartnerTulsa, Tulsa Innovation Labs and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to make this happen.”
Context: Manufacturing Continues to Shape U.S. Drone Market
Manna’s announcement comes as international drone companies increasingly establish manufacturing and operational capabilities in the United States. Federal policy has placed greater emphasis on domestic production and trusted supply chains for commercial drone technology. As a result, several foreign companies have expanded their U.S. manufacturing, assembly, or partnership strategies while maintaining research and corporate headquarters in their home countries.
For Manna, the Tulsa investment reflects that trend. The company plans to build aircraft in Oklahoma for the U.S. market while continuing to invest in research, engineering, manufacturing, product development, and commercial operations in Ireland. If successful, the Tulsa operation could serve as a model for the company’s expansion into additional American metropolitan areas.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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