Navantia Partners with Iskra Shipyard and AITAC on MRC Engineering Activities

2 October 2026
Edited By: Ed Freeman

Navantia has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Croatian companies AITAC and Iskra Shipyard, setting out guiding principles for potential cooperation on engineering and industrial activities related to the Multi-Role Corvette (MRC) programme. The signatures, which took place on October 1, 2026, in Šibenik during DEFCROS 3, the Public Safety & Defense Expo, reinforce the Spanish-Croatian relationship and pave the way for long-lasting cooperation between Navantia and Croatian partners.

Roko Vuletic & Alfonso Valea. (Credit: Navantia)

In the context of the MRC programme, Navantia is moving forward in its cooperation strategy to develop joint opportunities with Croatian industry.

Under the MoUs, Navantia, AITAC, and Iskra Shipyard intend to explore potential cooperation across a broad range of engineering, shipbuilding, and lifecycle-support activities, including:

• Exchange of technical documentation, engineering data, and programme information

• Ship design, production engineering, digital engineering, and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS).

• Local shipbuilding and industrial participation, including outfitting, installation, integration, setting-to-work, and testing activities.

• Future maintenance, lifecycle, and in-service support for the vessels

Navantia teams up with the following partners:

• AITAC, a Croatian engineering and digital solutions company, for design, engineering, outfitting and installation, setting to work, testing, ILS, and lifecycle support activities

• Iskra Shipyard, a Croatian shipbuilding and ship repair company based in Šibenik, for shipbuilding, vessel integration, outfitting, production, installation, testing, commissioning, and lifecycle support activities.

By bringing together Navantia’s experience in complex naval programmes with AITAC’s engineering and digital capabilities and Iskra Shipyard’s industrial and shipbuilding expertise, the agreements aim to strengthen Croatian participation throughout the different phases of the MRC programme.

Through its experience in the design, construction, integration, and through-life support of all types of naval vessels and submarines, as well as naval combat systems, Navantia seeks to establish long-standing partnerships with Croatian companies, creating added value for the defense and maritime sectors while supporting local industrial participation.

“These MoUs represent the commitment to Croatia. We are a reliable partner and we offer our experience and know-how to strengthen the Croatian industry and to support the Croatian Navy,” assured Alfonso Valea, Navantia’s commercial director for Europe.

“Signing this MoU with Navantia confirms that Croatian engineering expertise has a real role to play in the MRC programme. We look forward to exploring how AITAC’s experience in ship design, digital engineering, and ILS can support Navantia and the Croatian Navy,” says Marijan Lorencin, CEO of AITAC.

“This MoU marks a significant milestone in strengthening Iskra Shipyard’s role in the naval and defense domain, particularly following our recent acquisition of 3. Maj Shipyard in Rijeka. In cooperation with the selected bidder and other Croatian partners, we are committed to contributing advanced shipbuilding expertise, industrial capacity, and local know-how to the MRC programme. Our goal is to establish a long-term strategic partnership that supports Croatia’s sovereign naval capabilities while creating lasting value for the national maritime and defense industry,” said Roko Vuletić, CEO of Iskra Shipyard.