Czechoslovak Group (CSG), owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, completes its first strategic move in the unmanned systems domain. Through its new subsidiary AviaNera Technologies, it has acquired a 51% stake in Serbia-based MUST Solutions – the only European developer of a 4,000 N turbofan engine for long-range UAS. This marks a decisive step toward vertical integration and the development of complete unmanned platforms.
CSG accelerates UAS ambition with high-end propulsion capability
In a landmark move, CSG has entered the unmanned aerial systems sector by securing majority ownership in MUST Solutions, a Belgrade-based engineering company specializing in advanced propulsion units for unmanned aircraft. MUST’s flagship innovation – a 4,000 Newton turbofan engine – stands as the only system of its kind developed in Europe, offering significantly lower fuel consumption and extended operational range. The company also manufactures a 300 N turbojet engine for lighter UAV applications.
“Propulsion systems are the strategic bottleneck in UAS development globally,” said Michal Strnad, owner of CSG. “Acquiring MUST Solutions is our first tangible step in delivering our UAS strategy and securing world-class technology and know-how. This positions us to build complete, sovereign unmanned systems.”
Industrial scaling and global expansion
With six years of focused R&D behind it, MUST Solutions brings a specialist team in mechatronics and aerospace engineering, in-house development labs, and prototype-to-low-rate-production capability. AviaNera Technologies plans major investment into transitioning the Belgrade site to serial production, while expanding industrial capacity in the Czech Republic, Europe, Asia, and the United States.
“Backed by CSG’s industrial base, we expect to deliver hundreds of engines as early as 2026,” said Pavel Čechal, CEO of AviaNera Technologies. “We’re scaling globally and pushing the technology envelope – new propulsion units with exceptional performance will follow next year.”
Founder Vladimir Jazarević emphasized continuity and ambition:
“Our mission has been to build Europe’s propulsion excellence for unmanned aviation. Joining forces with CSG allows us to scale our technology and accelerate innovation for global deployment.”
Strategic pillar for CSG
The acquisition positions propulsion systems as a foundational pillar of CSG’s emerging UAS division, complementing existing aerospace and defense programs. Further acquisitions, partnerships, and synergies across the group will follow as CSG builds a European-centered but globally operating capability for next-generation unmanned platforms.
About MUST Solutions
Founded in 2019 in Belgrade by propulsion expert Dr. Vladimir Jazarević, MUST Solutions develops and manufactures turbojet and turbofan engines for UAVs. The company specializes in prototype development, testing, and platform integration, and is expanding production capabilities in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Jazarević holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Belgrade and has R&D experience in Barcelona’s CIMNE Institute. Prior to founding MUST, he spent seven years at EDePro focusing on gas generators and UAV rotorcraft development.
