Defence industry of Croatia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The defence sector of Croatia is an important part of the Croatian economy and the country's national security efforts.[1] It has expanded significantly since the 2020s due to economic initiatives and regional geopolitical risk.[1] Upon Croatia's accession into the military alliance NATO in 2009, its defence industrial base has focused on expanding production to meet NATO commitments and autonomous drone systems.[2] Protective gear, advanced robotics, demining hardware, and small firearms have historically been the highest-grossing military exports of the sector.[3]
As of 2024, the Croatian defence industry generated €600 million in annual revenue.[4] It exported €167 million in military assets a year later.[5] Through both public and private sector invovlement, this sector consists of 100 companies with a labour force of around 5,000.[5] The Croatian Armed Forces and NATO work closely with many defence contractors and manufacturers.[6][1]
History
Croatia’s has material private sector involvement in the research and development of drone technology.[7][8] During the 2010s, helmets, assault rifles, advanced robotics, demining hardware, and pistols were the three highest-grossing military exports of the sector.[3] According to Poslovni dnevnik, Croatian companies have entered or expanded military production since the 2020s.[9] A media analysis noted that the Croatian defence output international reach is growing, especially through companies like DOK‑ING and Đuro Đaković, which sign major agreements and cooperate with EU funding mechanisms.[10] The Croatian military has tested Croatian-Estonian technology Vegvisir, a mixed reality digital mapping system that allows for ultra-low latency spatial visibility.[11]
It significantly expanded its military drone program through strategic procurements and domestic manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in 2024.[7] During the 1990s the military was known for its covert aerial surveillance drone program, later becoming one of the first countries to use armed drones in active warfare in 1993.[7] Since 2025, it has a planned annual production of 500,000 combat drones as part of broader European and NATO rearmament.[1] Croatian robotics company DOK-ING was contracted by German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to produce an advanced reconnaissance drone fleet for NATO countries.[6] In 2024, it purchased six armed Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey.[12] In 2026, the city of Osijek hosted a drone exhibition wherein Orqa announced a large-scale drone production facility in the United States, namely in Florida.[13]
Major defence companies
| Company | Revenue (EUR, million) | Employees | Main Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS Produkt | 149.15[14] | 1,200–1,500 | Small arms, pistols, submachine guns, VHS bullpup rifle |
| DOK‑ING | 70.69[15] | 230 | Unmanned ground vehicles, MV‑8 Komodo UGV, mine‑clearing machines, electric vehicles |
| Orqa | 12[16] | 50–100 | FPV drones, drone controllers, goggles |
| Šestan‑Busch | 18[17] | 300 | Ballistic protection: helmets, body armor, vests |
| KING ICT | 110,35 | 800 | Cybersecurity solutions, communications systems, SIEM, unmanned aerial vehicles[18] |
| Đuro Đaković | 133.8[19] | 1,000–1,500 | Bradley IFV modernization, Patria AMV 8×8 production, M‑95 Degman MBT, M-84 MBT |
| Brodosplit | 120 | 2,300 | Shipbuilder, offshore patrol vessels, naval programme[20] |
Economic impact
The Croatian defence industry generated €600 million in annual revenue in 2024.[4] It exported €167 million in military assets a year later.[5][21] From 2020 to 2023, the value of military exports grew from €111 million to €153 million.[3] Through both public and private sector involvement, this sector consists of 100 companies with a labour force of around 5,000.[5] The Croatian Employers’ Association reported that revenues of companies in the Croatian defence industry cluster reached €401 million in 2023.[22]
Gallery
Patria CRO30L IFV produced (Đuro Đaković)
Autonomous drones (Orqa)
MV-8 Komodo Mangart 25AD (DOK-ING)
M-95 Degman MBT (Đuro Đaković)
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