September the 13th, 2025 – Croatia and Korea have joined forces owing to the companies DOK-ING and LIG Nex1.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatian innovation hub DOK-ING and South Korean company LIG Nex1 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, opening a new chapter in strategic industrial cooperation in the field of unmanned land systems. It’s all being done with the aim of strengthening defence capacities and joint presence across global markets.
The agreement, signed during the official visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić to Korea, defines crucial areas of cooperation and lays a solid foundation for further technical and commercial negotiations.
The cooperation lays the foundation for the joint development of advanced solutions in the field of unmanned land systems and opens up opportunities for the integration of advanced defence capabilities. This positions the cooperation as an important step in building technologically competitive solutions that can meet the needs of modern security and defence systems.
croatia and korea cement their relationship
DOK-ING will contribute to the development and production of advanced unmanned platforms in the partnership, while LIG Nex1 will ensure the upgrade through the integration of advanced solutions and testing within the Korean armed forces. This will steer the project towards rapid operationalisation and global commercial sustainability.
“This cooperation represents an important step forward in strengthening relations between Croatia and Korea and their defence industries. In addition, it represents a far broader opportunity for economic cooperation between the two countries. We’re proud that the Croatian company DOK-ING has been recognised as a partner in this technologically demanding area. This not only confirms the expertise and innovation of the Croatian defence industry, but also opens the door for other companies from Croatia to the market in Korea. The Korean defence industry is of exceptionally high quality. It’s precise and competitive, and by connecting with Croatian companies, we’re creating the foundations for long-term cooperation. This partnership contributes to strengthening security, as well as to the economic development of Croatia. I’d therefore like to congratulate DOK-ING and LIG Nex1 on making this significant step,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić.
croatian presence in korea since 2020
Croatia’s DOK-ING has been present in South Korea since 2020, where it also has a branch office. So far, it has delivered 14 MV-4 unmanned de-mining systems. Korea has also clearly expressed its solidarity with Ukraine by donating DOK-ING’s robotic systems (MV-10, MV-4) through KOICA donations. With Croatian assistance, Ukraine was developing its own national comprehensive mine action system, and more than 20 million square metres of territory being de-mined using DOK-ING’s robotic systems without a single human casualty.
“The cooperation with LIG Nex1 is a confirmation of DOK-ING’s vision and the quality and competitiveness of the Croatian defence industry on the global stage. This partnership between Croatia and Korea not only contributes to technological progress, but also opens up new opportunities for the joint development and application of innovative solutions in various security environments. They will meet the needs of security and defence systems around the world, as it will enable the development of unmanned systems that meet the highest technical and operational standards. Through this cooperation, DOK-ING will further improve its technological capacities and expand its presence on the global market,” commented Gordan Pešić, CEO of DOK-ING Security and Defence. He added that this acquisition of the first platform in Korea’s military infrastructure confirms the value of DOK-ING’s exceptionally advanced solutions.
dok-ing’s international partnerships
This isn’t DOK-ING’s first partnership with global companies. Back in October 2024, DOK-ING and the German defence concern Rheinmetall signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a joint company for the development of unmanned combat and non-combat systems. Those projects were based on the multi-role Komodo platform, with Rheinmetall contributing mission modules for armament, reconnaissance, logistics and combat systems management.
Together with the famed Croatian company Orqa, DOK-ING is currently developing dual-purpose manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies, thus integrating DOK-ING’s unmanned ground systems with Orqa’s unmanned air systems. This venture increases overall operational efficiency and safety in various missions.
These initiatives confirm DOK-ING’s strategic approach to developing and expanding its technologies to global markets, through cooperation with leading international partners and local actors.
