At SIDEC 2025 in Celje, Slovenia, DOK-ING and Valhalla Turrets jointly presented the MV-8 Komodo + Mangart 25 AD unmanned ground combat system for short-range air defense, counter-UAS, and anti-armor missions.

At the SIDEC 2025 defense exhibition in Celje, Croatia’s DOK-ING and Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets unveiled a new unmanned ground combat system pairing the MV-8 Komodo UGV with the Mangart 25 AD short-range air defense turret. Presented as part of a bilateral teaming agreement signed on October 24, 2025, this new vehicle reflects a broader Central European effort to develop modular unmanned assets capable of autonomous air defense and counter-UAS operations. Slovenian officials described the MV-8 Komodo Mangart 25 as an example of how regional industry cooperation can accelerate innovation in layered air defense and robotic warfare.
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The MV-8 Komodo + Mangart 25 AD integrates a stabilized 25×137 mm Rheinmetall cannon, as well as dual MBDA missile launchers to accurately engage aerial and ground targets up to 3 kilometers. (Picture source: DOK-ING and Valhalla)

The system was introduced as part of a wider effort by both companies to develop modular, unmanned solutions capable of addressing short-range air defense, counter-UAS, and anti-armor requirements while minimizing operator exposure. SIDEC 2025 was organized by Slovenia’s Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Slovenian Defence Industry Cluster, gathering 172 companies from 20 countries over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space. The unveiling followed the signing of a Teaming Agreement between DOK-ING and Valhalla on October 24, 2025, which formalized cooperation between Croatia and Slovenia to co-develop next-generation UGVs, counter-UAS, and very short-range air defense systems.

The Teaming Agreement outlines integration between DOK-ING’s unmanned vehicles and Valhalla’s modular weapon and sensor payload architectures to produce export-ready unmanned systems for the European and global defense markets. The MV-8 Komodo + Mangart 25 AD combination was described by both companies as a system engineered for unmanned operations across counter-UAS, anti-armor, and combat support missions. Its modular design allows configuration for C-UAS, mobility, counter-mobility, CBRNe, and other combat support roles, extending the flexibility of deployment across various mission environments. The cooperation builds upon DOK-ING’s prior specialization in robotic systems for engineering, firefighting, and mine-clearing operations, merging that experience with Valhalla’s expertise in remote weapon stations and stabilized turret systems.

The Mangart 25 AD is a short-range air defense and multifunctional turret armed with a Rheinmetall KBA 25×137 mm dual-feed automatic cannon, two MBDA SADM launchers, a HENSOLDT Spexer AESA radar, and a SAFRAN Paseo electro-optical targeting suite. The system carries 400 ready-to-use 25×137 mm rounds and integrates air burst munition capability, automatic video tracking, and four-axis stabilization for accurate engagement of aerial and ground targets up to approximately three kilometers away. The turret’s battle weight is 1,200 kg with a height of 590 mm, width of 1,740 mm, and length of 2,250 mm. It provides STANAG 4569 Level 1 protection for key components and includes a coaxial FN MAG 7.62×51 mm machine gun with 1,200 rounds and 2×4 76 mm smoke grenade launchers. Its networked architecture allows multiple Mangart 25 units to link with external sensors and command systems to form a layered, integrated air defense network.

The MV-8 Komodo is a 17-ton unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed for operation in hazardous or contaminated environments. Technical specifications for the base vehicle with a CBRN mission module list a 7.2-meter length, 2.3-meter width, 2.9-meter height, and 0.34-meter ground clearance, with a limited speed of 30 km/h and remote control capability up to 1.5 kilometers in line of sight. In military adaptations, the Komodo can reach 55 km/h. The hybrid propulsion system enables operation in low-oxygen or high-temperature areas unsuitable for conventional engines. Its modular structure supports interchangeable front and rear tools, robotic arms, and specialized payloads for reconnaissance, decontamination, or fire suppression missions. The open digital architecture allows integration with C4ISR networks and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) scenarios, making it adaptable for armed operations when equipped with the Mangart 25 AD turret.

The Slovenian Ministry of Defence has begun operational testing of the Mangart 25 turret on platforms such the Oshkosh JLTV and Perun 4×4 vehicles. It is one of Slovenia’s major development projects funded through the Ministry and implemented by a consortium of five national companies led by Valhalla Turrets. Alongside it, Valhalla developed the lightweight Loki 762 remote weapon station for Cobra 4×4 reconnaissance and MAN 8×8 support trucks, with mechanical, optical, and electronic components manufactured domestically. The ministry confirmed that the Mangart 25 will continue undergoing firing trials at the Bač range until certification is achieved for operational use. Guardiaris has contributed simulation and training systems for the turret through digital twin and embedded simulators, and Carboteh, a Guardiaris subsidiary, integrated its BANS non-lethal Battlefield Anti-Aircraft System to deceive aircraft self-protection systems and exhaust countermeasures before engagement.

Additional regional developments illustrate the scalability of Valhalla’s design. At IDET 2025, the Wolf 25 AD anti-drone system, integrating the Mangart 25 AD turret with an S-band AESA radar, was presented on the Slovak-made Wolf MRAP chassis. Developers stated that the system can detect fighter aircraft up to 20 km, helicopters to 12 km, missiles to 10 km, Lancet-type drones up to 10 km, and small FPV or reconnaissance drones up to 5 km, achieving intercepts at ranges of about 350 meters with 25 mm ammunition. The Mangart 25 has also evolved into the Mangart 30 variant equipped with a 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial weapon, already integrated on the Patria AMV for Slovenian trials. The turret family is designed to accommodate future options such as acoustic shot detection, laser designation, and AI-based target recognition for improved reaction times.

DOK-ING also started a cooperation with the German company Rheinmetall: a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Berlin in October 2024 covered joint development of unmanned ground systems for mine scattering and counter-mobility, with a demonstrator expected in 2025. Rheinmetall provides capability modules for direct and indirect fire and reconnaissance systems, while DOK-ING contributes robotic expertise from its mine-clearing MV-4 and MV-10 UGVs. The Mangart 25 AD-equipped Komodo now forms part of DOK-ING’s expansion from civil-defense robotics into armed military vehicles. Croatia is also preparing a $115 million contract for an automated anti-drone defense network for critical infrastructure, potentially co-financed by the EU’s SAFE program, with the Komodo–Mangart integration seen as a relevant model. At SIDEC, thirteen NATO countries expressed interest in the heavy unmanned air defense configuration, confirming growing international attention toward European modular UGVs combining mobility, autonomy, and air defense capability.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.