Rheinmetall acquires majority stake in Croatian UGC maker DOK-ING.
Rheinmetall acuires majority stake in DOK-ING: ZAGREB — German defence technology group Rheinmetall has signed an agreement to acquire a 51% majority stake in Croatian uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) manufacturer DOK‑ING, marking a significant move to expand its capabilities in autonomous and uncrewed defence systems.
The deal, signed in Zagreb, will see Rheinmetall take majority ownership of the company founded in 1991, while DOK-ING’s founder, Vjekoslav Majetić, retains the remaining 49% shareholding. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, and the purchase price has not been disclosed.
The contract was signed in the presence of Ivan Anušić, Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, underscoring the strategic significance of the agreement for both companies and Croatia’s defence sector.
Despite the change in ownership, DOK-ING will continue operating from its headquarters in Zagreb, with its existing management team remaining in place to maintain operational continuity and strategic direction.
Building a European hub for autonomous military systems
According to Rheinmetall, the acquisition is designed to strengthen its presence in the rapidly expanding market for uncrewed and autonomous ground systems, which are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare.
Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Europe division, said the partnership combines the strengths of both companies.
“The combination of Rheinmetall’s expertise in tactical vehicles and DOK-ING’s capabilities in uncrewed systems will create a strong market position for us with considerable potential for the future,” Bernhard said.
He added that the deal provides Rheinmetall with a strategic foothold in Croatia, an EU and NATO member state, opening access to an emerging defence market within the alliance.
Rheinmetall also plans to establish a competence centre for military uncrewed and autonomous systems in Croatia, focusing on the development of advanced combat support and engineering vehicles.
“We see significant growth potential in this market and believe we are entering the global market at the right time,” Bernhard said, citing ongoing procurement programmes for uncrewed systems across multiple countries.
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Proven technology with global reach
DOK-ING has built a strong international reputation for its specialised uncrewed platforms designed for mine clearance and operations in hazardous environments, serving both civilian and military customers.
Since its founding, the company has delivered around 500 robotic platforms to customers in more than 40 countries.
Its systems are currently being used extensively in Ukraine for mine clearance operations amid the continuing aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The company’s expertise in robotic demining and hazardous-environment operations has made it one of Europe’s leading developers of remotely operated engineering vehicles.
Partnership built on European defence cooperation
The acquisition builds on a partnership agreement between Rheinmetall and DOK-ING signed in October 2024, which focused on jointly developing uncrewed ground systems for:
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battlefield mobility operations
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countermobility missions such as mine clearing and mine laying
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combat support functions
A key feature of the collaboration is its entirely European industrial base, with both companies emphasizing European technology development and supply chains.
At the centre of the cooperation is DOK-ING’s Komodo platform, a heavy-duty modular hybrid uncrewed vehicle capable of carrying payloads exceeding 8.5 tonnes.
Rheinmetall contributes a range of modular capability packages, including:
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direct and indirect fire systems
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mine-clearing and mine-laying equipment
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autonomous navigation capabilities
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logistics and support modules
Together, the companies aim to produce mass-deployable uncrewed ground systems ready for large-scale military production.
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Rheinmetall’s Mission Master SP (A-UGV).
Future battlefield role: robotic “wingman” vehicles
One of the most ambitious projects under the partnership is the development of an armed uncrewed support vehicle, referred to as a “Wingman”.
The system is designed to operate alongside crewed armoured platforms to provide:
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reconnaissance
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fire support
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risk-heavy engineering tasks
These robotic systems could operate in coordination with Rheinmetall’s existing armoured vehicles, including the Panther KF51 main battle tank, the Büffel armoured recovery vehicle, and the Kodiak armoured engineer vehicle.
By pairing autonomous systems with traditional armoured vehicles, the companies hope to create integrated battlefield formations where robotic systems perform the most dangerous tasks.
Scaling production and expanding globally
For DOK-ING, the partnership represents a major step toward scaling its technology and expanding its global reach.
Founder Vjekoslav Majetić said the company had reached a stage where further growth required the backing of a larger industrial partner.
“Over more than three decades, we have built strong technological capabilities and established a solid international presence in demanding markets,” Majetić said.
He added that the collaboration would allow DOK-ING to expand production, accelerate development of next-generation robotic systems, and strengthen its competitiveness.
Importantly, he stressed that core engineering and development capabilities will remain in Croatia, reinforcing the country’s role in the European defence technology ecosystem.
“This strategic step positions DOK-ING for sustainable growth and reinforces Croatia’s role within the European defence and technology landscape,” he said.
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Rheinmetall’s Mission Master Unmanned Vehicles.
A rapidly expanding global market
Military analysts say demand for uncrewed ground vehicles is growing rapidly as armed forces seek to reduce risks to soldiers while increasing operational capability.
Autonomous systems are expected to play key roles in:
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mine clearance
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logistics resupply
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reconnaissance
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combat engineering
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frontline fire support
With its new stake in DOK-ING, Rheinmetall is positioning itself to compete more aggressively in what is expected to become one of the fastest-growing segments of the global defence industry.
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