Greek civil defense will deploy more than 100 drones nationwide during this year’s wildfire season as part of an expanded forest surveillance and early-detection strategy, according to the civil protection ministry.

The unmanned aerial systems will operate across all 13 administrative regions, providing round-the-clock monitoring of forests and other high-risk areas. Equipped with thermal and optical cameras, GPS tracking, laser range-finding systems and artificial intelligence-assisted detection tools, the drones are designed to identify heat signatures, smoke and suspicious activity before fires spread.

Authorities said the systems will transmit live images and telemetry data directly to regional operations centers and the national crisis management hub, allowing firefighting teams to respond more rapidly and coordinate ground and aerial resources in real time.

The largest deployment will be in the greater Athens area, where 27 drones will be stationed, followed by central Macedonia with 15 units. Three mobile drone-surveillance command centers based in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete will also be available for rapid redeployment to high-risk areas.

Greece has steadily expanded its drone-assisted wildfire prevention program following a series of destructive summer fire seasons linked to extreme heat and prolonged drought conditions. Over the past year, authorities have intensified prevention measures that include expanded patrols, forest-clearing operations, stricter access controls in vulnerable areas, and increased use of surveillance technology.

The country deployed around 40 drones in 2024 and 80 in 2025. Officials say this year’s fleet of more than 100 drones will form a central pillar of Greece’s wildfire prevention and rapid-response strategy.