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Federal Court of Appeals Orders Dismissal of P320 Class Action Lawsuit in Unanimous Decision

Friday, July 17th, 2026

NEWINGTON, N.H., (July 17, 2026) – SIG SAUER, an industry-leading manufacturer of cutting-edge firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, and advanced concepts, issued a statement today after the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on July 16, 2026, ordered the dismissal of a SIG SAUER P320 class action lawsuit in its entirety.

The Eighth Circuit Court ruled in Glasscock v. SIG SAUER, Inc. that a plaintiff must experience an actual defect on a product claim, rather than suggesting a theoretical defect could occur in the future and claiming damages. In its written decision, the court shows the plaintiff “admitted that he has had no issues (including inadvertent discharge) with his P320.”

The unanimous ruling by a panel of three federal judges determined that a hypothetical defect is insufficient for the lawsuit, clearly stating that mere ownership of a product is not satisfactory in the case. The outcome in Glasscock v. SIG SAUER, Inc. is significant because of the strong and unambiguous language by the Eighth Circuit Court highlighting the “wholly speculative” nature of the plaintiff’s claim.

“The Eighth Circuit’s ruling adds to our approximately 20 case dismissals involving the P320, including a previous class action lawsuit,” said Keith Gibson, an attorney at Littleton Joyce and counsel for SIG SAUER. “The P320 is among the most tested and proven handguns in the world, which is why we will continue to defend SIG SAUER’s products and the technology behind them.”

Similarly, a separate federal court denied class action certification in Ortiz v. SIG SAUER, Inc. in 2022. Multiple courts dismissed P320 cases after SIG SAUER demonstrated through repeated company and independent testing the firearm cannot discharge without a trigger pull. In addition, several plaintiffs decided to withdraw their P320 lawsuits after the evidence and independent investigations were presented.

In May 2026, two separate lawsuits were dismissed with prejudice in Massachusetts federal court and Colorado federal court. Nobody, including multiple experts retained by plaintiffs, has ever replicated a P320 pistol firing without a trigger pull.

In Massachusetts, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the case which claimed his issued P320 discharged in his hand without a trigger pull. His employer, the Cambridge Police Department, determined the plaintiff’s handling of the weapon violated numerous departmental rules and caused the gun to discharge in an enclosed van with other officers. In Colorado federal court, the plaintiff similarly withdrew the case after SIG SAUER showed again the P320 cannot discharge without a trigger pull.

The P320 is an innovative striker-fired pistol which has been selected as the handgun of choice following rigorous testing by the U.S. military and a number of other countries, including Canada, Switzerland, and Australia, as well as by elite law enforcement and federal agencies. It cannot under any circumstance discharge without a trigger pull – a fact which has repeatedly been verified through testing by SIG SAUER, handgun experts, and independent labs.

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Sponsor Opportunities Now Available for SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range 2026

Thursday, July 16th, 2026

Drive Brand Visibility and Increase Your Brand Exposure at SHOT Show’s Signature Kickoff EventBOULDER CITY, Nev. — July 15, 2026 — As the firearms, hunting and outdoor industries prepare for another influential week of SHOT Show, Industry Day at the Range (IDATR) 2027, taking place Monday, January 18, 2027, is inviting brands to secure sponsorship opportunities designed to maximize exposure, elevate brand recognition and connect directly with the industry’s most influential media, retailers, buyers and content creators before the doors of SHOT Show officially open.

As one of the industry’s most anticipated annual events, Industry Day at the Range brings together more than 2,300 vetted attendees for a full day of live-fire demonstrations, networking and product discovery. Sponsorship packages are strategically designed to place brands in front of key decision-makers throughout the event while reinforcing visibility before, during and after SHOT Week.

“Industry Day at the Range is where the industry gathers before the show floor opens, making it one of the most valuable marketing opportunities of SHOT Week,” said Kelsey Puryear, Industry Day at the Range manager. “Our sponsorship opportunities help brands stand out during the event’s highest-engagement moments while creating meaningful impressions with media, buyers and industry professionals who influence purchasing decisions throughout the year.”

Featured sponsorship opportunities for 2027 include:

Media Lunch Sponsorship
Attendee Lunch Sponsorship
Official Event App Sponsorship&nbsp

Each sponsorship is designed to maximize brand exposure across high-traffic event touchpoints.

The Media and Attendee Lunch Sponsorships provide premium branding during two of the busiest networking periods of the day, positioning sponsors in front of journalists, retailers, distributors, exhibitors and invited guests as they gather between range sessions.

The Official Event App Sponsorship places a sponsor’s brand directly into the hands of every attendee through the Industry Day mobile app, the primary resource for event schedules, exhibitor locations, interactive maps and product information.

These featured opportunities complement a comprehensive sponsorship program designed to help companies launch new products, strengthen brand recognition, increase media exposure and create memorable experiences ahead of SHOT Show. Whether introducing innovative products or reinforcing an established presence within the shooting sports industry, Industry Day at the Range sponsorships offer measurable value during one of the year’s most important business events.

“Industry Day at the Range has been an incredibly valuable platform for Henry Repeating Arms,” said Dan Clayton-Luce, vice president of communications at Henry Repeating Arms. “It gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase new product launches in a hands-on environment without the complexity and expense of hosting our own standalone event. The attendee list is highly focused—media members aren’t just evaluating products; they’re creating content and publishing coverage, much of it the very same day. It’s been a powerful way for us to build momentum and generate excitement heading into SHOT Show.”

With the National Shooting Sports Foundation continuing as title sponsor through 2028, Industry Day at the Range remains the premier live-fire event of SHOT Week and one of the most effective platforms for brands to generate awareness, media coverage and business opportunities before SHOT Show begins.

Exhibitor space and sponsorship opportunities are limited. Companies interested in maximizing its presence during Industry Day at The Range are encouraged to reserve their sponsorships early.

Exhibitor space is now available for the 2027 event. Companies interested in exhibiting are encouraged to register early, as premium shooting bays and sponsorship opportunities are limited. For additional details and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the event website.

For more information about the 2027 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range visit ShotShowRangeDay.com.

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Forging the Arsenal of Freedom: Department of War Suspends CMMC Phase II Requirements

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

The Department of War today announces the immediate suspension of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Phase II requirements, which were originally scheduled to come into effect on November 10, 2026. All Phase I self-assessment requirements remain firmly in place. Additionally, the Department will begin a comprehensive review of CMMC aimed at aligning with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s Acquisition Transformation System (ATS) directives prioritizing speed to capability, lowering barriers for small, medium, and non-traditional businesses, and replacing bureaucratic compliance with scalable, resilient cybersecurity measures.

Ensuring access to leading-edge commercial capabilities is a critical driver powering the Secretary of War’s operational execution for the “Arsenal of Freedom”. While the current CMMC program was designed to enhance DIB cybersecurity, instead it has created prohibitive compliance costs and bureaucratic burdens. Recent data, including reports from the Small Business Administration (SBA), confirmed that CMMC compliance is forcing innovative companies out of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) which will delay the delivery of critical capabilities to the warfighters.

“In support of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to reduce compliance barriers for small and medium sized businesses, we are today suspending the CMMC Phase II requirements and initiating a 60-day study of the future of this program,” said DoW Chief Information Officer Kirsten A. Davies. “Robust cybersecurity and operational resilience remain critical to protecting American innovation and supporting warfighter readiness. We believe the DIB can achieve both, while we reduce unnecessary government red tape.”

Effective immediately, the Department will suspend the transition to Phase II requirements of CMMC, as well as pending and future CMMC implementation milestones across the Department of War solicitations and contracts.

“We have a strategic imperative to reduce bureaucracy as we build the world’s strongest Arsenal of Freedom. The CIO’s decision ensures we maintain a strict security baseline while removing paralyzing costs and keeping innovators and competition growing in the defense supply chain,” said Hon. Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.

To realign our cybersecurity posture with the principles of the ATS, the Department CIO is establishing a CMMC Reform Task Force to conduct a comprehensive top-to-bottom review of the certification program. This task force will serve as the central hub for synthesizing industry feedback from our public Request for Information (RFI) regarding compliance challenges. Using these insights, the team will recommend realistic, scalable security measures that prioritize speed to capability and lower barriers for small and non-traditional businesses, delivering their final report to the DoW CIO within 60 days.

During this interim period, the Department will enforce cybersecurity compliance with the NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 standard through self-assessments and select government-led assessments, focusing on tangible cyber hygiene rather than administrative overhead.

It is critical to note that this action does not eliminate the requirement for companies to protect federal data. All defense contractors and subcontractors remain contractually obligated to safeguard covered defense information in accordance with DFARS clause 252.204-7012.

The Department of War remains steadfast in its commitment to securing its digital domain while empowering the DIB to rapidly provide the most advanced capabilities to the warfighter. More information can be found here: dowcio.war.gov/brilliantbasics

Posted in Cyber, Industry, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Kopin Achieves Three Critical Milestones Advancing US Army Color MicroLED Technology for Ground Soldier Vision Applications

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

New bonding capability, breakthrough brightness performance, and rapid progress toward full?color MicroLED integration mark major steps toward future programs such as Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC)

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., July 14, 2026–Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, enterprise, industrial, consumer and medical products, today announced three major milestone achievements in its color MicroLED development program for the U.S. Government’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. These accomplishments represent significant progress toward establishing a fully U.S.?based MicroLED manufacturing capability and advancing next?generation soldier vision systems.

Milestone 1: Breakthrough MicroLED Performance Achieved

Kopin achieved a significant performance milestone, reaching over 150,000 nits of single-panel, full-color brightness—exceeding the program’s threshold target. This early performance result demonstrates strong initial capability, with planned improvements expected to push brightness even higher over time.

These results represent a major step forward in the development of high?brightness, defense?ready MicroLED displays suitable for advanced vision systems, augmented reality, and other mission?critical applications.

Milestone 2: Progress Toward Full?Color MicroLED Integration for Ground Soldier Integrated Vision Systems

Kopin has reached a second crucial milestone: successful early integration progress of its color MicroLED technology for U.S. Army ground soldier vision applications. This advancement brings Kopin closer to enabling future soldier?borne systems such as the SBMC solution, where lightweight, high?brightness, full?color MicroLED displays are essential for real?time situational awareness, digital overlays, and mission execution.

This milestone reflects Kopin’s ability to translate MicroLED performance gains into application?specific optical solutions designed for rugged, field?ready soldier systems.

Milestone 3: U.S. Bonding Equipment Delivered and Installed

Kopin has received and begun installation of its new MicroLED bonding equipment, a key asset supporting the IBAS program and Kopin’s broader effort to onshore critical MicroLED manufacturing processes. The equipment shipped in June and is scheduled to be fully installed by the end of July at Kopin’s U.S. headquarters.

This advanced bonding system enables the precise attachment of the backplane to the MicroLED array, creating a fully bonded display assembly—an essential step in MicroLED production. With this installation, Kopin will have U.S.?based bonding capability, a foundational requirement for scaling domestic MicroLED manufacturing.

Kopin expects to transition to manufacturing product in mid?2027, positioning the company as a key U.S. supplier of next?generation MicroLED display technology.

Management Commentary

“Our team has delivered three major achievements that accelerate our path toward U.S.?based MicroLED manufacturing, and next?generation display performance,” said Michael Murray, CEO of Kopin Corporation. “Receiving and installing our bonding equipment is a foundational step in onshoring MicroLED production, surpassing 150,000 nits of single-panel, full-color brightness demonstrates the strength of our technology roadmap, and our integration progress for Kopin’s support of the IBAS initiative and moves us closer to enabling future programs like SBMC which could enable hundreds of millions in revenues for Kopin over the life of the program. These milestones reinforce Kopin’s commitment to building advanced display capabilities here in the United States and leading the future of high?performance MicroLED systems.”

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that constitute forward looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast,” “guidance,” “plan,” “estimate,” “will,” “would,” “project,” “maintain,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “prospect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “believe,” “continue,” “opportunity,” “potential,” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters.

Forward looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, outside of our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements. All forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to update forward looking statements except as required by law. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements are detailed in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release includes forward looking statements regarding Kopin’s breakthrough Micro-LED, our ability to turn these gains into field?ready soldier systems and our ability to enable hundreds of millions in revenues for Kopin over the life of the program. These statements also reflect anticipated strategic benefits associated with Kopin’s investment in bringing OLED display manufacturing processes in house. Forward looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including changes in customer demand, program schedules, manufacturing performance, and broader conditions in the defense market.

For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com.

Posted in Industry, Optics, Press Release | No Comments »

Exiger’s Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit Report Released at US Army War College

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

AI Platform Looks Deep into Supply Chains Offering National Security and Economic Insights for Sen. McCormick’s Event with President Trump and the Nation’s Defense and Tech LeadersWASHINGTON, July 14, 2026 — Exiger, the market-leading supply chain AI company and largest provider of supply chain risk technology to the U.S. Government, today unveiled its report, The Defense Industrial Base in Pennsylvania, at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Held at the U.S. Army War College on July 14th and 15th, the event convenes President Trump and leading defense and tech companies, including Anduril, Exiger, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Palantir.

Hosted by Senator Dave McCormick, the summit brings together military commanders, CEOs, investors, and entrepreneurs, like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, to accelerate innovation and strengthen America’s defense industrial base using insights into the Commonwealth’s supply chains. Exiger’s summit report, developed using the company’s proprietary AI, reveals Pennsylvania’s central role in national defense readiness.

Exiger’s AI-powered analysis uncovers new insights into the Commonwealth’s defense economy and supply chains, which span 190K+ defense workforce and 8,900+ DIB companies, including 465k+ DIB-related parts manufactured, about 113k parts that are essential to weapon-system function, 288k parts for which Commonwealth suppliers are the single source, and some 2k weapon systems that rely on those single source providers. Exiger’s analysis identifies strategic opportunities for the Commonwealth in defense tech, defense production, space, and raw materials.

In a statement to New York Post, Senator McCormick said: “The comprehensive report compiled by Exiger underscores the indispensable role Pennsylvania’s defense industrial base plays in our nation’s security. The data speaks for itself. Pennsylvania is home to one of the strongest and most diverse defense industrial bases in the country,” adding that the summit “will showcase Pennsylvania’s profound role in ensuring America’s military remains the most formidable fighting force the world has ever seen.”

“Exiger’s AI can map supply chains in ways nobody else can,” said Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels. “Our report gives leaders convening at the U.S. Army War College deep visibility into the Commonwealth’s supply chain and into the role it plays in the larger defense industrial base while providing a blueprint to protect and grow Pennsylvania’s defense economy and the more than 8,000 businesses it sustains.”

Daniels is a speaker at the livestreamed event headlined by President Trump. On Day 2 of the summit, he will join Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz for a fireside chat on The Intersection of Foreign Policy and American Prosperity at 10:15 a.m.

To download a copy of the full report, visit: www.exiger.com/penn

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T.REX ARMS Names Dave Rhoden Chief Growth Officer

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

*Industry Veteran with Proven Track Record in Tactical Product Development, Sales, and Brand Growth Joins Leading Holster Manufacturer*

**CENTERVILLE, TN. – July 11, 2026** – T.REX ARMS, a premier manufacturer of innovative holsters and tactical gear, today announced the appointment of Dave Rhoden as its new Chief Growth Officer. In this role, Rhoden will lead strategic initiatives to expand the company’s market presence, drive product innovation, strengthen dealer and end-user relationships, and accelerate revenue growth across public safety, military, and civilian markets. Rhoden brings more than two decades of high-impact leadership in the tactical and law enforcement apparel and equipment sectors. Most recently, he served as Director of Sales – Public Safety for Vertx (Fechheimer Brothers, Inc., owned by Berkshire Hathaway) where he oversaw sales and training initiatives for Vertx-branded products. From 2016 to 2022, he led product development and helped re-establish the Vertx brand.

Earlier in his career at 5.11 Tactical, Rhoden served as Director, Strategic Business Unit for Packs, Bags, Belts, Holsters, and Breaching Tools. Under his leadership, his nylon category grew dramatically from $9.8 million to $34 million in annual sales and achieved the highest GMROI in the company. He introduced product demonstration videos as a standard practice, restructured the product development team, and oversaw go-to-market strategies from ideation through distribution.

“Dave Rhoden is exactly the leader we need to take T.REX ARMS to the next level,” said David Noor, T.REX ARMS Interim CEO. “His deep relationships across Tier 1 units, federal agencies, and the broader tactical community, combined with his proven ability to grow categories, launch successful products, and build brands, make him the ideal fit as we expand our holster and gear lineup.”

Rhoden is a highly regarded subject matter expert, having delivered presentations and product training to all Tier 1 teams as well as Langley, Pentagon Police, Capitol Police, FBI HRT, DEA, and others.

“I am absolutely driven to see T.REX succeed,” said Rhoden. “T.REX has earned a reputation for quality, innovation, and understanding what operators and serious users actually need. I look forward to leveraging my experience in product development, sales, training, and strategic partnerships to help the company continue its upward trajectory and deliver even more exceptional solutions to the market.”

**About T.REX ARMS**

T.REX ARMS designs and manufactures premium holsters, belts, targets, and other defense of life equipment engineered for real-world performance. Innovation, durability, and user feedback drive a brand that’s made in America by Americans, with a lifetime warranty and best customer service, for all who carry in defense of life.

Posted in Industry, Press Release | 2 Comments »

Skapion Secures $36 Million Seed Funding to Accelerate Mobile Counter-Swarm Defense System

Friday, July 10th, 2026

Funding will accelerate development, system validation and expansion of the company’s engineering capabilities

Washington, D.C. / Ramat Gan, Israel, July 09, 2026 – Skapion, a defense technology company developing a mobile counter-swarm defense system for large-scale drone attacks, today announced that it has secured $36 million in Seed funding. The round was co-led by UP. Partners and Khosla Ventures, with participation from existing investors TBD VC, qFund and Fusion VC, new investor Stratos Ventures, and additional investors.

The investment comes as defense organizations worldwide accelerate efforts to field scalable counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities in response to the growing use of mass drone attacks across modern battlefields.

Skapion is developing a mobile, end-to-end counter-swarm defense system designed to detect, engage and neutralize large-scale drone attacks. The system is being developed to support hundreds of simultaneous engagements while significantly reducing interception costs compared with conventional air defense solutions. It is intended to operate alongside maneuvering forces or deployed in forward operating bases, critical infrastructure and fixed air-defense assets, including communication-denied , challenging weather conditions and contested operational environments.

The funding will accelerate engineering development, system validation and continued expansion of the company’s technical capabilities, while supporting engagement with defense organizations and strategic partners in Israel, the United States and allied markets.

Skapion was founded by an experienced team of defense, engineering and technology leaders. The founding team includes Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pini Yungman, former General Manager of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Systems division and one of the architects of Iron drone and David’s Sling – Israel’s advanced air-defense programs; Ido Bar-On, former defense executive at XTEND and retired IDF special operations officer; Gal Goren, Co-founder and CTO; entrepreneur Zafrir Yoeli; and defense entrepreneur Yaron Karp.

Skapion is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its R&D center in Ramat Gan, Israel.

“Drone swarms require a fundamentally different approach to air defense,” said Ido Bar-On, Co-founder and CEO of Skapion. “Our system is designed from the ground up to address the scale, speed and operational demands of coordinated drone attacks. This investment enables us to accelerate development, expand our engineering team and bring this capability to defense customers facing one of today’s fastest-growing operational challenges.”

Posted in C-UAS, Industry, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Rheinmetall Offers Croatia a Long-Term Strategic Industrial Partnership: Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles to Become a Centre of Future Defence

Friday, July 10th, 2026

Croatia is set to become one of Europe’s key hubs for the development, production and export of advanced defence technologies in the field of unmanned systems, creating new opportunities for domestic industry, exports, research and development.

ZAGREB, 8 July 2026 – Rheinmetall AG, one of Europe’s leading technology and defence companies, today presented Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles d.o.o., its joint venture with the Croatian company DOK-ING, marking the beginning of a long-term strategic industrial partnership between Rheinmetall and the Republic of Croatia.

The Inauguration Ceremony was attended by Andrej Plenkovi?, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Armin Papperger, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall AG, Vjekoslav Majeti?, Founder of DOK-ING, members of the Croatian Government, as well as numerous representatives of Croatian state institutions, the diplomatic corps, industry, academia and international partners.

The establishment of the company represents the first step in Rheinmetall’s long-term vision for Croatia, which includes the development of Croatian industrial, technological and manufacturing capabilities in partnership with domestic industry, research institutions, universities and shipyards, integrating them into Rheinmetall’s European and global programmes. The objective is to position Croatia as one of Europe’s key centres for the development, production and export of unmanned systems and other advanced defence technologies.

ARMIN PAPPERGER, CEO OF RHEINMETALL AG:

“We aim to build a broad industrial partnership with Croatia that will include local suppliers, the shipbuilding industry, research institutions and academia. Croatia has the expertise, industrial tradition and talented people required to become a manufacturing and development hub for advanced defence technologies. Together, we can build capabilities that will serve Croatia, Europe and our allies, while creating new export opportunities for Croatian industry.”

The newly established Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles represents the first and most important step in implementing this strategy. The company will combine DOK-ING’s more than thirty years of expertise in unmanned systems with Rheinmetall’s global development, manufacturing and market capabilities, creating a new European centre for the development of next-generation unmanned ground platforms.

Croatian expertise as part of a global system

Research, development and engineering capabilities will remain in Croatia, while the joint venture will provide Croatian experts with access to global markets, advanced technologies, serial production and international development programmes.

Its objective is to develop a new generation of unmanned and autonomous ground platforms for military and security applications, including combat support systems, combat engineering operations, mine clearance and other high-risk missions, building on DOK-ING’s Komodo platform and Rheinmetall’s expertise in the integration of complex defence systems.

VJEKOSLAV MAJETI?, FOUNDER OF DOK-ING:

“More than thirty years ago, DOK-ING was founded on the belief that Croatian knowledge and expertise could create technologies capable of changing the world. Today, we are not closing one chapter—we are opening a new one. I firmly believe that technologies developed in Croatia will contribute to Europe’s security and demonstrate that Croatian industry can stand alongside the world’s leading companies as an equal partner. I am particularly proud that Croatian engineers will have the opportunity to develop, here in Zagreb, systems that will shape the future of the European defence industry.”

An industrial partnership that goes beyond a single investment

Rheinmetall’s strategy in Croatia extends far beyond the development of unmanned ground systems. The company is already present in the naval sector and has, over recent months, further expanded its cooperation with Croatian industry, the shipbuilding sector and academia. This creates the foundations for the long-term localisation of production, the development of new technologies and the stronger integration of Croatian companies into European defence programmes.

Rheinmetall’s industrial model is based on creating local value through the development of domestic suppliers, technology transfer, strengthened research and development, the creation of new jobs and the establishment of sustainable manufacturing capacities with strong export potential.

For this reason, Croatia’s role in Rheinmetall’s strategy extends well beyond hosting a single investment. Croatia has the opportunity to become Rheinmetall’s long-term industrial partner in Southeast Europe.

ANDREJ PLENKOVI?, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA:

“I congratulate Rheinmetall and DOK-ING on strengthening their partnership, marking a new chapter in the development of Croatia’s defence industry and an important step forward in advanced technologies, innovation, and the strengthening of domestic industrial capabilities.

We want to build a Croatia that develops, manufactures, and exports the most advanced technologies while actively contributing to Europe’s security. This strategic partnership between DOK-ING and Rheinmetall confirms that Croatia is not only a user of advanced technologies, but also a country that helps develop and create them. In today’s evolving security environment, Europe is rapidly strengthening its defence capabilities and industrial base, and Croatia is actively contributing to these efforts. We are implementing the largest modernisation cycle of the Croatian Armed Forces, increasing investment in defence, and supporting the growth of Croatia’s defence industry, which brings together around 200 companies, employs more than 3,000 people, and achieves strong export results across EU and NATO markets. It is particularly important that key development activities will remain in Croatia, where a Centre of Competence for the development of autonomous and uncrewed ground systems will be established. This will enable Croatian engineers, experts, and researchers to play an active role in developing the cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future of defence and security.”

Rheinmetall’s approach is fully aligned with the objectives of Croatia’s Industrial Development Plan 2027–2034, including strengthening competitiveness, increasing exports, fostering innovation, accelerating digitalisation and integrating Croatian industry into European value chains. At the same time, the project contributes to strengthening Europe’s defence industrial base, resilient supply chains and technological sovereignty.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi? and Armin Papperger, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall AG, also held a bilateral meeting to discuss the further development of Rheinmetall’s activities in Croatia, future investments, the integration of Croatian companies into international supply chains and opportunities for expanding manufacturing and research capacities.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Robotics | No Comments »