Croatian drone technology company Orqa has entered into a cooperation agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Holdings to explore localized production of unmanned systems, marking a new phase in defence industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Doha on the sidelines of the DIMDEX 2026 maritime defence exhibition, in the presence of Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister along with senior Qatari defence officials.
According to Orqa and Barzan Holdings, the partnership will focus on potential collaborative arrangements, including the local manufacture of Orqa’s unmanned aerial systems in Qatar.
Croatian Defence Minister Anušić underscored the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare, describing Orqa’s platforms as fully European-developed solutions that are seeing rising international demand.
He also noted that strengthening Croatia’s domestic defence industry contributes directly to national security by reducing dependence on external suppliers.
The agreement comes amid Croatia’s broader push to expand defence partnerships and modernize its armed forces over the past two years.
In the air domain, Zagreb has moved forward with the induction of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale multirole fighters under a deal with France, replacing its ageing MiG-21 fleet and significantly enhancing air combat capabilities.
On the ground, Croatia confirmed follow-on contracts in 2023 with Finland’s Patria for additional armored vehicles, supporting both operational requirements and domestic industrial participation.
The country has also deepened defence cooperation with the United States through arrangements related to the transfer and refurbishment of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, with US contractors providing overhaul, training, and sustainment support.
