Strategic-Technological Analysis: Zelenza Defence (Spain)
Zelenza is a Spanish defence technology company with roots in advanced telecommunications and robotic systems. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Madrid[1][2], it has grown through the merger of earlier Spanish ICT firms to a mid-cap firm (2,500+ staff, ~€120M revenue[2]). Though privately held, it operates as a technology integrator, specializing in command-and-control and unmanned systems. Zelenza’s core focus is on applying artificial intelligence and secure network communications to military logistics and multi-domain operations. Its flagship product line, SIMACODA (also known as SIMCODA), is a proprietary C2 software suite designed to coordinate fleets of unmanned vehicles across land, air, and maritime environments[3]. The company also develops autonomous drone swarms (the “Starling” systems) and related AI-driven decision tools[4]. This analysis examines Zelenza’s strategic-technological positioning within Europe’s defence context, emphasizing its alignment with EU/NATO autonomy and interoperability goals, and how its indigenous technologies can reduce dependence on non-European suppliers.