Croatian drone technology company Orqa has signed a cooperation agreement with Qatar’s Barzan Holdings to explore localized production of unmanned systems, signaling a new phase in defense industrial cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was concluded in Doha on the sidelines of the DIMDEX 2026 Maritime Defense Exhibition, in the presence of senior Croatian and Qatari defense officials.
Under the agreement, Orqa and Barzan Holdings will assess potential partnership models, including local manufacturing and assembly of Orqa’s unmanned aerial systems in Qatar. The initiative is aimed at supporting regional defense requirements while strengthening industrial capabilities through technology transfer and localized production.
Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Ivan Anušić, emphasized the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern military operations. He described Orqa’s platforms as fully European-developed technologies that are seeing rising international demand. Anušić added that strengthening Croatia’s domestic defense industry enhances national security by reducing reliance on external suppliers.
The partnership aligns with Croatia’s broader effort to expand international defense cooperation and modernize its armed forces. In recent years, Zagreb has introduced Dassault Rafale multirole fighters to replace its ageing MiG-21 fleet, expanded armored vehicle cooperation with Finland’s Patria, and deepened ties with the United States through programs involving the transfer and refurbishment of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, including training and sustainment support.
