Zelenza's Dual Future: IT Services vs. Unmanned Naval Drones 2026

Zelenza, a Spanish company primarily known for IT services, has an unexpected side business: it owns Seadrone, the shipyard that built the Spanish Navy's first unmanned surface vessel (USV). This dual identity—a mature IT services firm and a cutting-edge defense innovator—defines its strategic future.

On December 9, 2024, the Spanish Navy received the SEAD 23, a 7-meter fiberglass boat that looks like a standard rigid inflatable but has no space for crew. It's the first surface drone in the Navy's fleet, and Zelenza's subsidiary Seadrone built it.

What Is the SEAD 23 and Why Does It Matter?

The SEAD 23 is a USV capable of reaching 36 knots (about 67 km/h), carrying up to 600 kg of fuel and sensors, and staying at sea for a week at 4 knots. It cost €1.1 million, and the Navy now has two units. Built by Seadrone, a small shipyard in Vigo, the vessel represents a leap into unmanned naval technology.

Seadrone has been part of Zelenza since 2023. For most of Zelenza's 2,500 employees, the company is not about drones at all—it manages networks, maintains infrastructure, and serves customers. That double life is what makes Zelenza interesting.

The Two Faces of Zelenza

"The current Zelenza is a technology services company because historically it was," CEO Pedro Alfaro told Goldman Media. That market is mature and accounts for almost all staff and revenue. Alongside it, there's another venture: a bet "very focused on defense and security and on the unmanned world." Alfaro calls it "a breaking point": under the same umbrella, two environments that couldn't be more different.

The numbers give a sense of proportion. Of the €120 million in revenue, the vast majority comes from IT services. The defense segment is still small but strategically significant.

Why the Defense Bet Matters

The SEAD 23 is not just a one-off. It signals Zelenza's ambition to diversify into high-growth defense technology, where unmanned systems are increasingly in demand. Navies worldwide are investing in USVs for surveillance, mine countermeasures, and reconnaissance.

For Zelenza, this means leveraging its IT expertise—networks, sensors, data—into a new domain. The company's existing capabilities in managing complex infrastructures could give it an edge in integrating unmanned systems.

Key Takeaways for Industry Watchers

• Zelenza operates two distinct businesses: IT services (core) and defense technology (emerging).
• Seadrone, acquired in 2023, built the Spanish Navy's first USV, the SEAD 23.
• The SEAD 23 costs €1.1 million and can operate for a week at sea.
• CEO Pedro Alfaro sees the defense bet as a "breaking point" in the company's evolution.
• Most of Zelenza's €120 million revenue still comes from IT services.

Comparing Zelenza's Business Segments

What to Watch Next

Zelenza's future hinges on how well it can scale its defense business while maintaining its IT services cash cow. The SEAD 23 is a proof of concept, but broader adoption by the Spanish Navy and other allies could open new revenue streams. The background to this story is set out in Royal Navy Increases Russian Vessel Monitoring by 25%. A related thread runs through Royal Navy Russian Vessel Monitoring Up 25% in UK Waters. Earlier coverage in Royal Navy Tracks Russian Vessels in UK Waters for 72 Hours shows how the argument developed.

Meanwhile, the company must manage the cultural and operational divide between its two halves. Alfaro's "breaking point" comment suggests a deliberate strategic shift, not just a side project. A closer look at the same subject appears in Business: latest articles. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Alcampo's Electronic Labels: 560,000 Screens and Dynamic Pricing. The same theme surfaces in Scientists Recreate Ancient Roman Color-Changing Glass, which takes a different angle.

Investors and analysts should monitor Zelenza's defense contracts and any further acquisitions in the unmanned systems space. The company's ability to cross-pollinate IT expertise into defense could be its unique advantage. Context on how this played out before sits in Nanya Technology's $16B DRAM Bet to Ease Memory Chip Crisis.