Croatia
Croatia has officially reintroduced mandatory military conscription, ending a suspension that has been in place since 2008. The new system will require young men to undergo short-term military training while offering civilian service alternatives.
BEDEX 2026
DAF Trucks, Tatra Trucks, and VDL Groep are presenting a new 6×6 military logistics truck at BEDEX 2026 in Brussels. The vehicle combines DAF powertrain components, a Tatra off-road chassis design, and a VDL-developed cargo body.
Croatia
Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has secured $14.7 million in Series A funding to scale production and expand into the United States defense market. The company also signed a cooperation agreement with Red River Army Depot to support U.S.-based manufacturing.
Global arms imports increased by roughly 10 percent over the past five years, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The United States accounted for nearly half of all weapons exports during the period.
German defense group Rheinmetall has acquired a stake in Croatian robotics and unmanned systems manufacturer DOK-ING. The move expands Rheinmetall’s presence in unmanned ground systems and strengthens cooperation with a specialized robotics developer in South-Eastern Europe.
ZVS Holding, part of CSG, and France’s Eurenco will establish a joint venture to produce modular artillery propellant charges in Slovakia. The €300 million project aims to expand European capacity for key artillery ammunition components.
German defense company Rheinmetall and Croatian robotics specialist DOK-ING have agreed to form a strategic partnership focused on unmanned ground systems. The cooperation will combine Rheinmetall’s defense integration capabilities with DOK-ING’s experience in robotic and autonomous platforms.
As exhibition costs rise and decision-makers plan meetings weeks in advance, defense companies are rethinking how they approach trade shows. A growing number are adopting structured pre-event visibility strategies to build awareness before the doors open.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the first combat use of its Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones during Saturday’s air campaign against Iranian military infrastructure. The expendable loitering munitions were deployed alongside missiles and airstrikes as part of Operation Epic Fury.
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Croatian venture capital firm AYMO Ventures has invested in Orqa, a developer and manufacturer of First Person View (FPV) drone systems. The investment marks the first time a Croatian VC has backed the Osijek-based company.
The European Union plans to formalize new security and defense partnerships with Australia, Iceland, and Ghana this week. The agreements are intended to expand the EU’s network of international security cooperation amid rising geopolitical risks.
Global arms imports increased by roughly 10 percent over the past five years, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The United States accounted for nearly half of all weapons exports during the period.
KNDS is positioning itself for a larger share of European defense procurement as governments accelerate military modernization programs. The Franco-German land systems manufacturer expects increased demand across armored vehicles, artillery, and ammunition.
European governments are rebuilding the continent’s defense-industrial base after decades of underinvestment and shrinking production capacity. Rising defense budgets are beginning to translate into expanded manufacturing and long-term procurement plans.
Serbia’s Ministry of Defense has issued 15 licenses for the production of weapons and military equipment in 2025 to companies that met regulatory requirements. Most approvals involved renewals of existing permits, while two companies received licenses for the first time.
Lithuania has approved €710.5 million from its State Defence Fund for 2026 to support military capability development and infrastructure projects. The package includes plans for the local assembly of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks in Kaunas.
Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa has signed an investment agreement to recapitalize military truck manufacturer Jelcz with approximately €177 million. The funding will support construction of a new factory and expansion of production capacity.
The European Investment Fund has committed €50 million to Join Capital’s third venture capital fund through the InvestEU Defence Equity Facility. The fund will target early-stage European startups developing dual-use technologies for defence, security, and space.
German defense group Rheinmetall has acquired a stake in Croatian robotics and unmanned systems manufacturer DOK-ING. The move expands Rheinmetall’s presence in unmanned ground systems and strengthens cooperation with a specialized robotics developer in South-Eastern Europe.
ZVS Holding, part of CSG, and France’s Eurenco will establish a joint venture to produce modular artillery propellant charges in Slovakia. The €300 million project aims to expand European capacity for key artillery ammunition components.
German defense company Rheinmetall and Croatian robotics specialist DOK-ING have agreed to form a strategic partnership focused on unmanned ground systems. The cooperation will combine Rheinmetall’s defense integration capabilities with DOK-ING’s experience in robotic and autonomous platforms.
