Croatia’s Border Patrol is set to receive modern uncrewed aerial systems from Redwire Corporation, a move aimed at improving border surveillance and response capabilities.
Through a Frontex-funded contract, Redwire’s subsidiary Edge Autonomy will deliver Penguin C VTOL drones equipped with Octopus gimbal camera payloads.
These systems will help Croatian authorities monitor expansive border regions more efficiently and detect potential threats with greater accuracy. The same VTOL platforms have already proven effective in Frontex missions in Poland and Greece, providing long-duration surveillance over rugged landscapes and maritime corridors, and supporting anti-smuggling and search-and-rescue operations.
The decision to introduce Penguin C VTOL systems reflects Croatia’s strategy to upgrade its aerial monitoring fleet. The drones’ ability to take off and land vertically eliminates the need for runways, while their high-resolution camera payloads offer real-time imaging to enhance border awareness.
Croatia has previously operated fixed-wing UAS such as the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 for coastline patrols and the SenseFly eBee for forest-border surveillance.
Adding the Penguin C provides greater mission versatility, enabling rapid deployment, extended endurance operations, and flight in areas that are difficult to access.
This initiative aligns with wider modernization efforts, including improvements to Croatia’s Adriatic maritime radar network and the integration of UAV-gathered intelligence into its national border command-and-control infrastructure.
