Rheinmetall Targets Croatia as European Hub for Autonomous Military Ground Systems

Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles is positioning its Zagreb operations as a European development center for autonomous military ground systems, with plans to expand Croatian engineering capabilities, strengthen domestic supplier partnerships and integrate locally developed technologies into larger international defense programs.

Gordan Pešić, CEO of Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles, outlined the strategy in an interview published by Croatian business publication Financije.hr on October 31, 2026.

The company is building on the former DOK-ING defense robotics business, which became Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles following the German defense group's acquisition of a 51% majority stake earlier this year.

The strategy could strengthen Croatia's position in the European military robotics industry, particularly in autonomous combat-support, engineering and demining technologies.

Zagreb to Develop Technologies for International Defense Programs

Pešić said the company's ambition is to build a strong European development capability for autonomous unmanned ground systems from Zagreb.

The strategy involves retaining key engineering and research activities in Croatia while connecting them to Rheinmetall's international manufacturing network, technology resources and defense customers.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on vehicle production, the company intends to develop integrated systems combining autonomous platforms, communications, sensors, artificial intelligence, software and mission-specific equipment.

This approach could enable Croatian-developed technology to be incorporated into larger military modernization programs across Europe and other international markets.

The company has not announced a new procurement contract, production target or additional investment amount in connection with the latest statements.

KOMODO Platform Supports Future Autonomous Capabilities

The company's MV-8 KOMODO modular unmanned ground platform provides an important technological foundation for its future development activities.

The platform is designed for military engineering, combat support and high-risk operations where unmanned vehicles can reduce the exposure of military personnel.

Future development priorities include autonomous navigation, situational awareness, sensor integration and mission management.

Pešić emphasized that artificial intelligence should support operators by processing information and improving the speed of decision-making, while responsibility for critical decisions remains with human personnel.

The strategy reflects a wider shift in the European defense industry from individual remotely operated vehicles toward more integrated autonomous systems.

As AdriaDefense previously reported, DOK-ING has already demonstrated the integration of its KOMODO platform with Germany's Dynamit Nobel Defence SKORPION2 mine-scattering system.

Croatian Technology Companies and Universities Could Benefit

A central component of the strategy is cooperation with Croatia's existing engineering and technology ecosystem.

Pešić highlighted collaboration with Ericsson Nikola Tesla, the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and its Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.

These partnerships bring together capabilities in robotics, software engineering, communications, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

For Croatian suppliers, participation in Rheinmetall's international programs could create opportunities in component manufacturing, electronic systems, software development, equipment integration and engineering services.

The German group's majority investment has already established a stronger industrial connection between Croatia and one of Europe's largest defense manufacturers.

AdriaDefense covered the completion of the acquisition in July, when the Zagreb business officially adopted the Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles name.

The next measure of the strategy's success will be whether development activities in Zagreb translate into larger international production contracts, sustained research investment and additional industrial participation by Croatian companies.