► NAVANTIA advances its collaboration strategy with the Croatian industry

Zagreb, 27 May 2026.- Navantia today signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with its Croatian partners, Uljanik Brodogradnja 1856 and Nortes Blue, establishing a framework for strategic cooperation to develop a highly competitive and fully integrated proposal for the Croatian Navy’s multipurpose corvette programme.

These agreements, which confirm the commitment undertaken last March when Letters of Intent (LoIs) were signed, were signed at the Embassy of Spain in Zagreb in the presence of Ambassador José Ramón García Hernández, who highlighted that the signing of these Memoranda demonstrates Navantia’s commitment to this highly relevant project for Croatia, offering a top-quality product already in operation in several countries, as well as the company’s commitment to supporting and building synergies with Croatia’s national industrial base.

On behalf of Nortes Blue, the agreement was signed by its director, Juvel Čokić; on behalf of Uljanik Brodogradnja 1856, by its director, Samir Hadžić; and on behalf of Navantia, by Alfonso Valea, Commercial Director for Europe and Turkey, who reaffirmed Navantia’s strong commitment to developing the local value chain.

The approach underpinning these agreements is based on the active and substantial participation of national industry, combining Nortes Blue’s capabilities in design, engineering and industrial coordination with Uljanik’s solid shipbuilding expertise and infrastructure, particularly in the construction and outfitting of the vessels. In this way, Navantia’s proposal not only provides a state-of-the-art naval solution, but also tangibly promotes local industrial development, the creation of skilled jobs and knowledge transfer, consolidating a model of cooperation that strengthens Croatia’s strategic autonomy and generates sustainable long-term value for its naval sector.

The solution Navantia is proposing to the Croatian Navy is the Avante 2200/ALFA 3000, a modern, existing and extensively proven platform, aligned with NATO standards and designed to maximise the Croatian Navy’s operational availability from day one, reducing risks, shortening delivery times and facilitating the vessel’s life cycle.

Navantia is offering not only a ship already in service, but also a long-term commitment to integrating Croatia’s industrial ecosystem. To achieve this goal, Navantia is open to collaboration with different companies within this ecosystem that can contribute a valuable proposition, and the agreements signed today are the first step in consolidating that position.