The annual Oct. 28 – OXI Day – military parade in Thessaloniki this year was noteworthy as it served as the venue where a handful of new weapons systems were unveiled, mostly ones falling in the UAV category and components of an anti-aircraft and anti-missile “dome” concept.

The new systems are part and parcel of a strategic plan, called “Agenda 2030”, unveiled by the country’s defense ministry over the recent period.

‘Achilles Shield’

Systems to comprise Greece’s version of the well-known “Iron Dome”, dubbed “Achilles Shield”, were on display on Tuesday, including the Israeli-made Spike NLOS system, the locally produced Kentavros (Centaur) anti-drone system, the V-BAT UAVs and the Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS).

The Greek-made Kentavros (Centaur) anti-drone system.

Members of a newly established innovation branch present during the parade also drew attention.

Hardware that was paraded along Thessaloniki’s main boulevard included a single Israeli long-range UAV Heron, four out of a batch of newly acquired and deployed M1117 armored security vehicles from the United States, the aforementioned Spike NLOS (Non-Line of Sight / fire and forget) anti-tank and anti-personnel guided missile and its accompanying Orbiter UAV, as well as the Greek-produced Kentavros, which saw action aboard Hellenic Navy frigates during recent Red Sea patrols.

A military vehicle carrying the Spike NLOS missile system

Another locally produced anti-drone system now in the advanced testing stage, the “Iperion”, was also showcased.

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV

Other first-seen systems included a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV, the rotorcraft version. The latter, produced by Austria’s Schiebel, is scheduled for deployment aboard the four Belharra frigates ordered by the Hellenic Navy from France’s Naval Group; the Greece-made large UAV Archytas, designed and produced in cooperation by the Naval Cadets School and the National Metsovion Polytechnic in Athens; the Altus A900 helicopter UAV for the Hellenic Navy; the undersea scooter Rotinor used by combat divers; the unmanned underwater vehicle VTR, and finally, a locally made explosive ordnance disposal robot.

The small locally produced Archytas UAV