Athens expands drone program, Greece aims to produce 15,000 unmanned aerial vehicles a year

During a visit to Xanthi, in the region of Thrace near the border with Turkey, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced that Greece aims to significantly increase drone production, reaching up to 15,000 unmanned aerial vehicles a year. The plan is part of efforts to modernize the Armed Forces and adapt them to new forms of warfare.

Dendias inspected the military unit where the drones are produced and said the Greek military’s current capacity stands at around 5,000 such vehicles a year. According to him, the completion of the new Factory 309, which is expected to be inaugurated in December, will triple that capacity, bringing it to 15,000 drones a year. This figure does not include production by private companies in Greece’s defense industry.

Athens regards this development as significant progress compared with the end of 2023. At that time, the Greek Armed Forces had only two HERON-class drones and 252 aircraft produced by the industry, which were not particularly competitive.

The Greek minister stressed that the use of drones is no longer limited to surveillance and reconnaissance, as they can also be used to carry out attacks. At the same time, he said, capabilities must be strengthened to defend against drones from a country that could pose a threat to Greece, without naming any state.

Meanwhile, the Greek military is working on the construction of 522 new fortifications, which are expected to be completed by 2030.