From fast food to military technology: a mysterious company from Râșnov, without employees, wants to produce military drones. Links with a convicted former SRI officer
A commercial company from Râșnov, Brașov county, with no declared employees and no real industrial capacity until 2025, changed its business, shortly after the adoption of the European Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, to “manufacture of military aircraft and spacecraft“, which in practice would include military drones, although so far it does not actually produce such equipment, according to Pressone.ro.
Ioana Păiuș and Sorin Dobîrcianu at a security event. Photo source: Ioana Păiuș/LinkedIn
The company is called IntellDrones SRL and was founded in February 2024. Initially, the company imported agricultural drones from China and offered land spraying services. In 2024, the company had no employees, zero turnover and debts of approximately 19,000 lei, according to the quoted source.
In July 2025, IntellDrones changed its main business to “manufacture of military aircraft and spacecraft”, show Presson.
The change took place shortly after the launch of the European program SAFE – Security Action for Europe, a fund of 150 billion euros intended for joint purchases in the field of security and defense, of which Romania will receive approximately 16.6 billion euros until 2030, according to Pressone.
In a dialogue with a reporter of the aforementioned publication who presented herself as a potential client, the company's administrator, Ioana-Hermina Păiuș, allegedly stated that currently the activity is limited to the import of commercial and agricultural drones and the provision of associated services, but “inIn a few months, the production of military drones will begin”.
When it was founded, the company was owned by Ioana-Hermina Păiuș (30%), her husband, a former employee of the Romanian Police (20%), and the Dorobanțu family (30% and 20%). Later, the two shareholders withdrew, and Păiuș allegedly brought in Andreea Codruța Nicoară (49%), the daughter of a businessman from Brașov investigated for bribery, as an associate.
The legal headquarters of IntellDrones is in a residential area of Râșnov, in the same house that housed in the past the headquarters of Food by Ioana, a restaurant managed by Ioana Păiuș.
The company's administrator, ties to a convicted former SRI officer
According to the cited source, before establishing IntellDrones, Ioana Păiuș would have managed two other businesses in Brașov county: the Food by Ioana restaurant and a screw manufacturing company.
Ioana Păiuș's professional career does not include experience in the aerospace or defense industry, but she attended multiple master's and doctoral programs in the field of security and international relations, including at the National Intelligence Academy, under the SRI.
At the same time, Păiuș frequently appears in the company of Sorin Dobîrcianu, a former SRI officer convicted of influence peddling, who recommends himself as a “NATO influencer”. Păiuș was active in the National Liberal Party and ran for local elections, but claims that he no longer has any connection with politics. The quoted source claims that he has family ties with the liberal Adrian Vestea, confirmed by him himself.
Participated in defense events
Ioana Păiuș built her visibility in the field of security by participating in international conferences and forums, including Warsaw Security Forum 2025, an event dedicated to European security and transatlantic cooperation, where she was present alongside military and political officials, as well as representatives of the Romanian defense industry.
He also had meetings with representatives of companies such as Carfil, IAR Ghimbav, AIBG or UM Zărnești, as well as attending Romanian-American events to strengthen the Romania-USA Strategic Partnership, alongside former and current parliamentarians, ministers and leaders from the private sector.
Contacted by Adevărul, Ioana Pǎiuş refused to make statements.
The European SAFE program provides for the granting of favorable loans for the development of the defense industry. The Ministry of Defense explained that access to funds is not done through public appeals, but through the direct identification and mobilization of operators considered strategic, who will be integrated into the production chains. The final procedures will be approved by the Government and the CSAT, and the list of companies that will receive funding is not public.
According to Law no. 232/2016, any company that wants to manufacture armaments must hold state-issued permits, demonstrate real industrial infrastructure, qualified personnel, security procedures and a supply chain compatible with NATO standards. The register of authorized companies is classified, and the verification of the shareholders' profile and technical capabilities is done by the information services and structures of MApN and MAI.
