Greece is pushing its unmanned aerial capability forward with four new contracts focused on combat drones.
Signed by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI), the agreements follow extensive field testing during the National Joint Exercise “PARMENION” and involve both state research and private industry.
One contract goes to the Hellenic Research Technological Development and Innovation Center for kamikaze drone development, while three others target construction of domestic Category I unmanned combat aerial vehicles intended for near‑term use by the Greek Armed Forces.
The country’s Ministry of National Defence said these contracts mark a transition toward a sustainable, innovation‑driven model that ties research directly to production and operational needs, strengthening Greece’s defense innovation ecosystem and linking it with active military requirements.
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has emphasized innovation’s role in responding to shifting regional threats and noted that the establishment of HCDI in 2023 was key to developing homegrown technological capabilities.
“The unstable geopolitical environment and conflicts in the wider region highlight the role of innovation and cutting-edge technologies,” he said.
Modernizing Greece’s Drone Capabilities
Greece has actively broadened its unmanned systems portfolio in recent years through foreign procurements and production initiatives.
Earlier modernization plans included acquiring US-made Switchblade loitering munitions, split between Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 variants under a foreign military financing arrangement, enhancing tactical strike capability for ground units.
For broader surveillance, Athens selected four French‑built Patroller UAVs in 2025, scheduled to enhance intelligence and reconnaissance coverage over key regions including the Aegean Sea and northern borders.
The country has also expanded its own manufacturing footprint.
An army facility known as the 306 Telecommunications Base Factory near Athens has been converted into a drone production hub capable of building more than 1,000 drones annually, with plans to replicate similar capabilities at other regional workshops like its unit in Xanthi.
Further steps toward autonomy include a 24-million-euro ($27.7-million) program launched in 2025 to build homegrown cargo unmanned aerial vehicles with robust lift and autonomy features beyond current surveillance platforms.
The government also announced in September 2025 the creation of a drone and anti-drone training school in Tripoli, southern Greece.