Greek authorities plan to install anti-drone systems at the prime minister’s headquarters and other key government sites in Athens as part of a broader security upgrade prompted by growing drone threats.
According to reports, portable and fixed counter-drone systems are expected to be deployed at the Maximos Mansionand possibly at the Hellenic Parliament.
Officials from the Hellenic Police said discussions are taking place with the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Digital Governance to create a wider “security dome” across Athens.
Authorities said the initiative aims to protect government buildings, embassies, critical infrastructure and crowded public spaces that could potentially become targets of drone attacks.
Security officials raised concerns that commercially available drones could be used to carry explosives, particularly amid heightened tensions linked to conflicts in the Middle East.
Legal and technical challenges
One of the main obstacles involves the legal framework governing the use of drone-interception systems in urban areas. European regulations limit the use of signal-jamming technologies, which can interfere with communications networks.
Authorities are also addressing the absence of a comprehensive national registry for legally operated drones, which would help security agencies quickly identify suspicious aircraft.
New surveillance and interception system
The police have launched a procurement process through the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for four interconnected anti-drone systems with an estimated budget of €2.8 million.
The system will detect, track and neutralise unmanned aerial vehicles at distances exceeding five kilometres, identify the drone’s operator and monitor flight paths in real time.
Officials say the technology will also allow authorities to take control of hostile drones, disconnect them from their controllers and force them to land safely or divert away from protected areas.
Earlier security measures
Until now, security services have relied on a small number of older portable anti-drone devices capable only of visually identifying drones before disrupting their navigation signals.
These systems have been quietly deployed during visits by foreign leaders and high-level government meetings.
Meanwhile, the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation has also supported the deployment of portable anti-drone systems at several Greek prisons, where authorities recently intercepted drones carrying mobile phones and drugs into correctional facilities.
