German military giant takes over DOK-ING; European center for unmanned systems created in Croatia

German defense industry leader Rheinmetall has officially completed its acquisition of Croatian company DOK-ING, marking a significant development for Croatia's military technology sector. The finalization of the deal was announced at a press conference in Zagreb.

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We see a place in Croatia where we can establish a center of competence, but where we can also set high growth goals. We want to see annual sales at the level of 500 million euros as well as a significant increase in the workforce from 200 to a thousand employees. This will not be easy because it implies 20 times greater sales than is currently being achieved.

The acquisition establishes a new entity, Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles d.o.o., which will continue DOK-ING's specialization in the development and production of unmanned vehicles. Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall's chief operating officer and a key figure in the German military industry, attended the event, underscoring the strategic importance of this move.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and several ministers were present, highlighting the government's view of Rheinmetall's entry into the Croatian market through DOK-ING as highly beneficial. Vjekoslav Majetić, founder of DOK-ING, recalled the company's origins during wartime and acknowledged the changing global landscape.

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We have no intention of becoming a huge company that will then buy everything in sight and thereby strengthen itself. We are interested in cooperation that brings access to human potential because without it there is nothing. We do not have cooperation like this only in Croatia but practically in a number of European countries.

Papperger outlined ambitious growth targets for the new venture in Croatia, aiming for annual sales of 500 million euros and increasing the workforce from 200 to 1,000 employees. He emphasized that Rheinmetall is not seeking to become an overwhelmingly large entity but rather values collaborations that provide access to human potential. He also mentioned Rheinmetall's overall sales reach of 20 billion euros.

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1,400 German companies are currently operating in Croatia, and we have reached defense spending at the level of 2.1 percent of GDP, and such cooperation is extremely opportune and beneficial.

Prime Minister Plenković noted that 1,400 German companies currently operate in Croatia and that the country's defense spending has reached 2.1% of GDP, making this collaboration particularly opportune. Papperger also addressed plans for the Rijeka facility, acquired from the Lürssen group, stating it will serve as a research and development hub with 50 employees currently working there, assuring their positions are secure.

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We are not satisfied with the fact that we recently lost the corvette construction contract with Germany, but we are not worried in the long term because Germany intends to invest 80 billion euros in the navy. When we talk about Rijeka, for us it is an opportunity for research and development, where 50 people are already working excellently, we think their jobs are really safe.