On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, German group Rheinmetall AG announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Croatian company DOK-ING, thereby expanding its portfolio as planned through an acquisition in the unmanned vehicle sector. The company will operate under the name Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles d.o.o.
Unmanned breaching system MV-8 Komodo (UBS) at Eurosatory 2026 / Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
On March 4 of this year, Rheinmetall AG signed an agreement in Zagreb for the acquisition of a majority stake in the Croatian unmanned vehicle innovation center DOK-ING. Rheinmetall AG is acquiring 51% of the company, while the founder and previous owner, Vjekoslav Majetić, will retain 49%. The strategic partners agreed not to disclose the purchase price (Rheinmetall AG acquires Croatian DOK-ING).
Previously, on October 8, 2024, Rheinmetall AG and DOK-ING entered into a partnership initially focused on the joint development of unmanned ground vehicles for various purposes, including scatterable minelaying and support for counter-mobility and combat operations.
The combination of Rheinmetall AG’s expertise in tactical vehicles with DOK-ING’s capabilities in unmanned vehicles creates a solid competency base with significant future potential. These joint activities are based on the newly developed DOK-ING Komodo system u a modular, heavy, hybrid platform with a payload capacity of over 8.5 metric tons. Rheinmetall AG supplies various functional modules and equipment packages, including systems for direct and indirect fire, demining and scatterable minelaying operations, reconnaissance sensors, and logistics systems. By joining forces, two leading European suppliers aim to deliver ambitious projects, set new standards, and pave the way for unmanned ground systems to be ready for serial production and deployment (Eurosatory 2026: MV-8 Komodo unmanned breaching system).
„We can now establish our competence centre in Croatia in the field of unmanned and autonomous vehicles for military purposes. With this new setup, we aim to achieve a strong market position in the segment of unmanned combat and armoured support vehicles. We see growth potential in this future market, and, at the same time, we are establishing a foothold in Croatia, an EU and NATO partner country and a highly attractive customer market,” Dr Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Europe division, reiterated upon receiving regulatory approval.
