The final live-force demonstration of the multinational exercise “Combat Power 26” successfully brought together the Croatian Armed Forces, allied and partner forces, and national security organizations within a highly realistic operational environment to validate emerging tactical capabilities. A major focal point of the training event was the practical demonstration of modular defensive architectures designed to address both conventional battlefield threats and asymmetric aerial vectors. Among the cutting-edge systems highlighted was the Mangart 30 remote-controlled turret, developed under a research, development, and innovation (RDI) program spearheaded by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, which underscored regional efforts to advance domestic industrial capabilities and defense self-reliance.
During the exercise, the indigenous Slovenian turret system was demonstrated in two distinct configurations, showcasing its adaptability across manned and unmanned platforms. Initial demonstrations highlighted the Mangart 30 integrated onto a Patria 8×8 armored vehicle, which forms a core element of Slovenia’s modern mechanized units. Developed entirely within Slovenia, the system features a 30mm automatic cannon paired with an advanced integrated sensor suite optimized for precision target engagement. Its underlying modular design is purposefully engineered to allow for future technological upgrades, ensuring seamless compatibility with evolving fire control systems, tracking mechanisms, and secure communication architectures required for long-term capability evolution.
To demonstrate advanced force protection layers against contemporary aerial threats, Valhalla Turrets showcased the Mangart 30 augmented with an auxiliary Loki 7.62 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). This combined weapon system was integrated onto the Komodo unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a platform co-developed by DOK-ING and Rheinmetall. The Loki RCWS provides exceptional tactical versatility by supporting weapon calibers ranging from 5.56mm to 12.7mm, establishing a definitive engagement envelope of up to 2,000 meters. The integration of this secondary layer effectively expands the host platform’s overall mission profile by combining precise direct-fire support with a dedicated localized counter-drone defensive capability.
The unmanned delivery platform utilized in the display leverages the collaborative technical expertise of Rheinmetall’s engineering, DOK-ING’s field-proven unmanned vehicle frameworks, and Pearson Engineering’s highly specialized clearance attachments. Based fundamentally on the DOK-ING Komodo MV-8 architecture, this remotely operated unmanned mine clearance system is designed to fuse multiple distinct military capabilities onto a single survivable platform, thereby significantly reducing personnel exposure in high-threat combat zones. The robust, all-weather 15.5-tonne vehicle features an integrated 350 kW diesel-electric hybrid drive capable of carrying an 8.5-tonne payload at speeds reaching 55 km/h, and it is slated to receive Rheinmetall’s PATH-A-Kit to introduce autonomous and semi-autonomous operational functions prior to full-scale deployment evaluations by the Slovenian Armed Forces.
