Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia has signed cooperation agreements with Croatian companies AITAC and Iskra Shipyard to explore their participation in Croatia’s Multi-Role Corvette program. The agreements were concluded during a defense and public security convention in Šibenik and establish a framework for possible domestic manufacturing, engineering, vessel integration and long-term support.The initiative supports Zagreb’s objective of involving Croatian industry in the planned acquisition of two modern surface combatants valued at up to €1.6 billion ($1.7 billion). Navantia said AITAC would contribute digital engineering and logistics capabilities, while Iskra would support local assembly and testing through its existing resources and its recent acquisition of 3. Maj Shipyard in Rijeka.Navantia is competing against several international shipbuilders for the program. France’s Naval Group, Italy’s Fincantieri and South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have also established cooperation arrangements with Croatian companies.The planned corvettes are expected to improve Croatia’s ability to counter underwater and airborne threats. Potential equipment includes medium-caliber guns, heavy close-in machine guns, autocannons, anti-submarine torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and air-defense missiles covering multiple ranges. The vessels are also expected to incorporate stealth features and facilities for operating a rotary-wing aircraft.Once commissioned, the ships would primarily operate in the Adriatic Sea, the strategic maritime corridor between the Balkan Peninsula and Italy that also serves as an important southern European logistics route for NATO.
