José Fernández, the founder and president of Zelenza, has warned that Spain must recognize its domestic technology companies and include small firms in defence contracts.
Speaking as Western governments increase military spending, Fernández cautioned that a severe funding drought would follow the current surge unless the Spanish state actively integrates small and medium-sized enterprises into its defence supply chain.
In comments reported by the specialized technology portal Innovaspain, the executive addressed the national debate over whether military funds should be concentrated in a single state-backed champion or spread across smaller domestic producers. Fernández warned that while billions of euros in defense investment are expected to enter the industry, a brutal drought will inevitably follow the initial wave of spending.
Zelenza, a Spanish technology company specializing in telecommunications and drone swarm systems, is seeking a larger share of upcoming government procurement. The firm has positioned itself within the national security ecosystem by avoiding consumer electronics markets, where decision-making authority remains centered abroad.
Call for a balanced defence ecosystem
To protect public investment from being wasted, Fernández proposed reshaping Spain's defence industry into a tree-like ecosystem that supports smaller suppliers alongside major contractors. He recalled that Spanish electronics enjoyed a golden age during the 1980s before suffering a sharp decline in the 1990s when government contracts froze and corporate consolidation created the state-backed defense giant Indra.
Indra Systems, Spain's largest defense contractor, was created through the macro-merger of several state and private firms in the 1990s and currently receives a major share of national defense contracts. Fernández noted that although Spain cannot undo past consolidation, the country currently possesses new technological development shoots that must not be wasted.
Zelenza has expanded its strategic capabilities by developing specialized drone management platforms and acquiring Cotelsa, a Spanish electronic security firm. These developments have enabled Zelenza to build command and control systems as well as specialized software designed for industrial and security operations.
Challenges in attracting tech talent
Fernández also highlighted a structural challenge within the domestic arms industry, noting that most technology entrepreneurs naturally focus on mass consumer products rather than military applications. He argued that reversing this trend will require the Spanish government to actively recruit and involve innovative tech creators in state security projects.
Fernández previously founded the technology companies Arcitel and Alalza before turning his attention to Amper, a historic Spanish engineering and technology group listed on the Madrid stock exchange. Following a corporate restructuring and the securing of a five-year financing agreement, Fernández is now working to commercialize Amper's engineering capabilities as investors monitor its role in upcoming military contracts.
Debate over Spanish military autonomy
The discussion over domestic defense procurement comes amid wider calls from military figures to strengthen Spain's industrial self-reliance. Rubén García Servert, a retired lieutenant general and former commander of NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre South at Torrejón Air Base, stated that Spain must build the capacity to manufacture its own defense systems locally.
The debate also touches on major modernization programs across the Spanish Armed Forces, including elite units such as the Spanish Legion, which marks 106 years as a primary shock force. Meanwhile, aerospace leaders have highlighted Spain's contributions to strategic assets, with María Ángeles Martí, head of Transport Aircraft Programmes, describing the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport as the world's leading aerial refueling aircraft.
