Irish drone company picks Tulsa for U.S. expansion
Tulsa has been named the U.S. operations center for Manna, an Irish developer of autonomous drone delivery systems, the company announced Thursday. The move brings a full-scale metropolitan drone-delivery operation to the city and signals a significant private investment in local aviation and logistics jobs.
Manna said it expects to create more than 1,000 jobs in the Tulsa area over the next three years across a range of functions, from aviation and flight operations to manufacturing, maintenance and customer support. The company framed the decision as part of a broader strategy to build its presence in the United States after pausing some operations in Ireland.
- Jobs planned: more than 1,000 over three years
- Primary functions: aviation/flight ops, commercial ops, customer support, manufacturing and maintenance
- Reason cited: Tulsa's forward-looking approach to airspace and aviation, plus support from city officials
Local context and potential impact
For Tulsa, the announcement arrives at a moment when cities nationwide are competing for advanced logistics and aviation projects. A home base for Manna could mean not only direct employment but also a cluster effect: suppliers, training programs and ancillary services could follow. That possibility aligns with statewide efforts to grow aerospace and technology employment, areas Oklahoma leaders have promoted in recent years.
City officials were credited by the company for facilitating the expansion. Manna said Tulsa’s regulatory environment and engagement with aviation issues helped influence its decision to establish a central U.S. base here.
"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," said Bobby Healy, founder and CEO of Manna.
What the timeline and jobs look like
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jobs planned | More than 1,000 over three years |
| Areas of work | Aviation/flight ops, commercial ops, customer support, manufacturing, maintenance, business functions |
Manna’s announcement also follows a recent strategic pause in its Irish delivery operations after local regulatory setbacks there. The company said the U.S. market represents a major opportunity and framed its Tulsa move as taking Irish-developed technology to a larger market rather than abandoning its roots.
For Tulsans, the near-term questions will be where Manna locates facilities, how the company recruits locally, and how the city’s existing aviation infrastructure will be used. Long term, the project could contribute to growth in high-tech logistics jobs and bolster Tulsa’s profile in drone and aerospace activity across Oklahoma.
City and state economic development officials will likely play a role in shepherding the first phase of hiring and permitting. Residents and local businesses interested in potential opportunities should watch for further announcements from Manna and municipal partners about specific site plans and recruitment timelines.
