As Bulgaria reassesses its planned cooperation with German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall, neighboring Croatia is moving ahead with a major partnership that positions the country as a future regional center for advanced defense technology and unmanned systems, BGNES writes.
Rheinmetall has officially established a joint venture with Croatian robotics company DOK-ING under the name Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles d.o.o. The initiative is part of a long-term industrial strategy aimed at transforming Croatia into a European hub for the development, production, and export of next-generation defense technologies.
The new company was launched in Zagreb during a ceremony attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, DOK-ING founder Vekoslav Majetić, senior government officials, diplomats, industry representatives, academics, and international partners.
According to Rheinmetall, the partnership is intended to go well beyond the creation of a single company. The group plans to expand cooperation with Croatian suppliers, universities, research institutes, and shipyards, integrating local expertise into its broader European and global defense programs.
The joint venture will combine DOK-ING's three decades of experience in unmanned systems with Rheinmetall's international production capabilities, technological expertise, and access to global markets. The focus will be on developing autonomous and unmanned ground vehicles for military and security operations, including combat support, engineering missions, mine clearance, and other high-risk tasks. The platforms will build on DOK-ING's Komodo system while incorporating Rheinmetall's experience in integrating sophisticated defense technologies.
