[Evangelos Karaiskos/AMNA/Defense Ministry]
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias inspected a drone during the conclusion of a four-day military exercise “Aisios Oionos 2025,” marking the first field test of a wide array of unmanned platforms, from drones and anti-drone systems to combat-ready UCAVs deployed within a structured wartime scenario.
The drill represents a significant step for the Defense Ministry and the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation, which helped identify 37 mostly startup companies whose technologies were tested in the Evros region.
The systems demonstrated will now be evaluated by the Armed Forces, which may reject some, approve others, or request improvements. Officials aim to institutionalize this testing process so that companies claiming high technological maturity can prove their products under real conditions, guiding future ministry investment.
Among the systems shown were UCAVs, FPV drones of the type widely used in Ukraine, and disposable loitering munitions developed for Greek forces. A mobile drone-production unit – a container-based workshop capable of 3D printing drones near the front – also drew attention.
“Our country, our Armed Forces, have now entered the new era… with both feet,” Dendias said, stressing the importance of security in Thrace.