The Greek armed forces this week will break ground on its largest military drone production facility to date in the country, while at the same time launching a new drone pilot training school as part of an accelerating effort to modernize the military and expand domestic defense capabilities.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made the announcement on Monday.
Speaking at the “Greece 2030” conference, Dendias said the foundation ceremony for the third and largest drone factory operated by the Greek armed forces will be held on Friday at a site near Malakasa, due north of Athens.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.
The minister also announced that a dedicated drone pilot training school for larger category II and category III unmanned aerial systems is expected to open in Tripoli, southern Greece, in the coming period.
The announcements form part of the government’s expanded defense upgrade, which has increasingly emphasized local production, advanced technologies, unmanned systems and lessons drawn from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. In recent months, Greek officials have repeatedly highlighted the need to adapt military structures and procurement priorities to the rapidly evolving battlefield environment.
Dendias also said the Hellenic Navy would inaugurate a new directorate dedicated to autonomous systems, while an integrated electronic warfare structure is expected to begin operations within days.
Describing electronic warfare as a critical component of future military operations, he said the concept extends well beyond cyberattack and cyber defense capabilities, encompassing data centers, cloud infrastructure, operational command centers and redundant backup systems designed to ensure resilience during crises.
The minister said Athens intends to continue developing its domestically produced defense technologies, including the “Centaur” anti-drone system, which has been deployed operationally by the armed forces. Future upgrades could incorporate laser-based counter-drone technologies as they mature, he said.
Dendias also highlighted ongoing reforms to military force structure and training. He said the armed forces had undertaken a difficult process of mergers and organizational changes aimed at creating smaller, more flexible units better suited to contemporary operational requirements.
As part of that shift, conscripts are increasingly being trained in the operation of first-person-view (FPV) drones, reflecting the growing role of low-cost unmanned systems in modern warfare.
The initiatives are part of a wider long-term defense modernization effort that includes restructuring military commands, expanding domestic defense manufacturing, strengthening electronic warfare capabilities and integrating emerging technologies into operational planning. Greek officials have argued that developing indigenous production and technological expertise is essential for reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while enhancing deterrence in an increasingly volatile regional security environment.
