Rheinmetall AG, the Düsseldorf-based defence technology group, has acquired a 51% majority stake in Zagreb-headquartered DOK-ING, a specialist in uncrewed ground systems for mine clearance and military engineering. Founder Vjekoslav Majetić retains the remaining 49%. The purchase price remains undisclosed, and the transaction is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities.
For DOK-ING founder Vjekoslav Majetić, the deal closes more than three decades of building the company from the ground up into a globally recognised defense and robotics firm. “This partnership with Rheinmetall marks the next phase in DOK-ING’s development,” Majetić said.
“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 production scaling require a partner with substantial industrial capacity, system integration expertise and global market access.”
The transaction remains subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities.
The core of development stays in Croatia
On Croatian National TV, Majetić was direct about what the deal preserves: “DOK-ING’s development, engineering excellence and core competencies will remain in Croatia. By joining forces with Rheinmetall, we are creating the conditions to expand production capacity, accelerate the development of next-generation uncrewed specialised systems, and strengthen our long-term competitiveness.”
He added that the move “positions DOK-ING for sustainable growth and reinforces Croatia’s role within the European defence and technology landscape.”
Davor Petek, member of DOK-ING’s management board, confirmed that neither the leadership structure nor the workforce will change as a result of the transaction.
“Nothing changes regarding the board and management within the company, and nothing changes regarding employees, except growth in the very near future,” Petek said, signalling that headcount and production capacity will expand rather than contract. The company’s headquarters in Zagreb will continue to serve as its operational base.
Komodo platform and the Wingman project
At the technical core of the partnership sits DOK-ING’s newly developed Komodo — a modular, heavy-duty hybrid uncrewed platform carrying a payload of over 8.5 tonnes. Rheinmetall contributes capability modules and equipment kits covering direct and indirect fire, mine clearing and laying, autonomous operation, and logistics.
Together, the two companies plan to develop a range of solutions for combat and combat-support operations, including a project for an uncrewed armed support system known as “Wingman,” designed to operate alongside battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles for reconnaissance and fire support.
These systems will integrate with existing Rheinmetall products, among them the Panther KF51 main battle tank, the Büffel/Buffalo recovery tank, and the Kodiak armoured engineer vehicle.
The partnership, which the two companies first formalised in October 2024, carries an entirely European origin and value chain. Dr Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Europe division, described the logic:
“DOK-ING and Rheinmetall are two leading European suppliers in their very special field, and by joining forces, we can realise challenging projects. Together, we are aiming at setting new standards and hence, pave the way for uncrewed ground systems which are ready for mass production and deployment.”
Bernhard also announced that Croatia will host Rheinmetall’s competence centre for uncrewed and autonomous systems for military applications. “With this new set-up, it is our goal to obtain a strong market position in the segment of uncrewed combat support and armoured military engineering systems. We do see the potential for significant growth in this market and believe that we are entering the global market at the proper time with our new products,” he said, pointing to ongoing and planned procurement projects in numerous other countries as evidence of demand.
A track record built on 500 platforms across 40 countries
DOK-ING was founded in 1991 and has since delivered around 500 platforms to customers in more than 40 countries. Its core portfolio spans remotely operated and progressively autonomous systems for humanitarian and military demining, military engineering, CBRN response, and critical infrastructure protection. The company’s mine-clearance solutions are currently deployed and proving highly effective in Ukraine.
Majetić highlighted this legacy at the signing: “We are still very attractive, which we are proving with this signing. I thank our partners for giving us the chance to prove that we are one of the most significant robotics companies in the world.”
Rheinmetall AG, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, employs around 44,000 people across approximately 180 sites worldwide. The group has been listed on Germany’s DAX 40 since March 2023 and recorded revenue of €9.8 billion in the 2024 financial year, operating across land, air, sea, and space domains.
With engineering anchored in Zagreb, a new heavy platform ready for integration, and a partner capable of scaling production globally, DOK-ING enters its next chapter as a Croatian-rooted company with significantly broader industrial reach — pending regulatory clearance of the transaction.
