04 Mar 2026 DOK-ING and Rheinmetall Partnership: A New European Leader in Unmanned Systems Is Emerging
CROATIAN TECHNOLOGY LEADER DOK-ING REMAINS A CENTER OF ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN ZAGREB, STRENGTHENING RHEINMETALL’S EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL BASE IN THE SEGMENT OF SPECIALIZED UNMANNED GROUND SYSTEMS
ZAGREB, March 4th – Rheinmetall and DOK-ING today advanced their strategic partnership in Zagreb by signing an agreement on the planned acquisition of a majority stake in the Croatian company DOK-ING, specialized in unmanned ground systems (UGV).
Rheinmetall will acquire a 51% stake in the company founded in 1991, while the founder and sole owner to date, Vjekoslav Majetić, will retain the remaining 49%. Rheinmetall’s entry into DOK-ING’s ownership structure will be completed upon obtaining approval from the relevant regulatory authorities. Both parties have agreed that the value of the transaction will remain confidential.
DOK-ING will continue to operate from its headquarters in Zagreb, with the existing management team remaining in place to ensure strategic continuity and operational stability, in accordance with the agreement and with Rheinmetall’s support. This further confirms Croatia’s role as an important center of development and production within the European defence industry.
In the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, Ivan Anušić, the agreement was signed by Vjekoslav Majetić, founder of DOK-ING, and Dr. Björn Bernhard, CEO of the Vehicle Systems Europe division at Rheinmetall.
Statement by Vjekoslav Majetić, Founder of DOK-ING:
“Partnering with Rheinmetall marks the next phase in DOK-ING’s development. Over more than three decades, we have built strong technological capabilities and established a solid international presence in demanding markets. We have now reached a stage where further value creation and the expansion of production capacities require a partner with substantial industrial capacity, system integration expertise, and global market access. DOK-ING was built on the enthusiasm, knowledge, and courage of our people. That identity remains unchanged. Development, engineering excellence, and key competencies will remain in Croatia. By joining forces with Rheinmetall, we are creating the conditions to expand production capacities, accelerate the development of a new generation of specialized unmanned systems, and strengthen long-term competitiveness. This strategic step positions DOK-ING for sustainable growth and further reinforces Croatia’s role within the European defense and technological environment.”
Statement by Dr. Björn Bernhard, CEO, Vehicle Systems Europe, Rheinmetall
“The combination of Rheinmetall’s expertise in tactical vehicles and DOK-ING’s capabilities in unmanned systems will create a strong market position with significant future potential. At the same time, we are establishing a strong presence in Croatia, a member of the EU and a NATO ally, and gaining access to this highly attractive market. In Croatia, we will establish our competence center for unmanned and autonomous systems for military applications. Our goal is to secure a leading market position in the segment of unmanned combat support and armored engineering military systems. We see significant growth potential in this segment and believe that we are entering the global market with new products at the right time, as confirmed by current and planned procurement projects in numerous countries. DOK-ING and Rheinmetall are leading European suppliers in their respective specialized fields, and by joining forces, we can deliver complex projects. Together, we aim to set new standards and pave the way for unmanned ground systems ready for serial production and operational deployment.”
DOK-ING holds a strong market position in unmanned demining solutions and operations in hazardous and high-risk environments across both the civilian and military sectors. Since its founding, the company has delivered approximately 500 platforms to customers in more than 40 countries. DOK-ING’s unmanned demining solutions have proven highly effective in Ukraine.
The two companies already initiated strategic cooperation in October 2024, initially focused on the joint development of unmanned ground systems for mobility, counter-mobility (demining and mine-laying), and combat support operations. A distinctive feature of the Rheinmetall-DOK-ING partnership is its fully European origin and the creation of added value within Europe.
Through the partnership, DOK-ING and Rheinmetall plan to develop a broad range of solutions for combat and combat-support operations. This includes the unmanned armed support system project (known as “Wingman”), designed to operate alongside main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles for reconnaissance and fire support. These systems will also be deployed in conjunction with existing Rheinmetall products such as the main battle tank Panther KF51, the Büffel/Buffalo armored recovery vehicle, and the Kodiak armored engineering vehicle.
Development is based on DOK-ING’s new heavy-duty Komodo platform, with a payload capacity exceeding 8.5 tons. Rheinmetall will provide advanced capability modules and equipment kits, including direct and indirect fire systems, demining and mine-laying systems, autonomous capabilities, and logistics solutions.
About Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is an integrated technology group headquartered in Düsseldorf. Founded in 1889, it is a leading international systems supplier to the defense industry and operates across the land, air, sea, and space domains. Sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall’s strategy. With approximately 44,000 employees at around 180 locations worldwide, the company has been listed in the DAX 40 index since March 2023 and generated revenue of €9.8 billion in fiscal year 2024.
About DOK-ING
DOK-ING is a technology-driven company specializing in the development and production of advanced unmanned systems designed for operations in hazardous and high-risk environments. Its core portfolio includes remotely operated and progressively autonomous platforms supporting humanitarian and military demining, military engineering operations, CBRN response, and critical infrastructure protection.
The company’s solutions are based on modular and scalable architectures that enable rapid adaptation to specific missions, including demining, improvised explosive device (IED) disposal, route clearance, firefighting, and other complex operational requirements. With a strong commitment to safety, reliability, and operational excellence, DOK-ING delivers field-proven systems that enhance force protection and reduce human exposure to risk, serving armed forces, civil protection agencies, and specialized security operators worldwide.
