Rheinmetall has acquired a majority stake in the Croatian robotics specialist DOK-ING.

Rheinmetall is purchasing 51 percent of the company, while founder and previous sole owner Vjekoslav Majetic will retain the remaining 49 percent, Rheinmetall announced on Wednesday. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. "Our goal with this new structure is to achieve a strong market position in the segment of unmanned combat and combat support vehicles," said Björn Bernhard, head of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems Europe division. DOK-ING has made a name for itself with unmanned landmine clearance. The systems have already proven to be highly effective in Ukraine.

The companies already operate a joint venture for unmanned military vehicles, which, for example, accompany tanks in combat or clear mines. The vehicles can also be used to deploy explosive devices.

(Reported by Matthias Inverardi, edited by Sabine Wollrab. For any inquiries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economy) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).