Greece is accelerating the development of its combat drone capabilities after signing four new contracts aimed at advancing unmanned aerial systems.
The deals were concluded by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation following extensive operational trials during the National Joint Exercise PARMENION and involve cooperation between government research organizations and private sector companies.
Under the initiative, the Hellenic Research Technological Development and Innovation Center will develop loitering “kamikaze” drones, while three additional contracts focus on producing domestically developed Category I unmanned combat aerial vehicles intended for near-term service with the Greek Armed Forces.
The Ministry of National Defence (Greece) said the agreements signal a transition toward a sustainable defense innovation model that directly links research and development to production and operational deployment. The approach aims to strengthen the country’s defense technology ecosystem while aligning innovation efforts with active military requirements.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has stressed the importance of technological innovation in addressing evolving regional security challenges and noted that the establishment of the HCDI in 2023 was a major step in developing indigenous defense capabilities.
Modernizing Greece’s Drone Capabilities
Greece has significantly expanded its unmanned systems programs in recent years through both foreign acquisitions and domestic production efforts.
Earlier modernization initiatives included purchasing Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions under a US foreign military financing arrangement, improving the tactical strike capabilities of ground forces.
To enhance surveillance coverage, Athens selected four Patroller UAV platforms manufactured by Safran in 2025, which will support intelligence and reconnaissance operations across key areas such as the Aegean Sea and northern frontier regions.
Domestically, the 306 Telecommunications Base Factory near Athens has been transformed into a drone production facility capable of manufacturing over 1,000 drones per year, with plans to replicate this capability in additional regional facilities including Xanthi.
The country also launched a 24-million-euro initiative in 2025 to develop indigenous cargo UAVs with advanced lift capacity and autonomous features beyond current surveillance drones.
In addition, the government announced the creation of a specialized drone and counter-drone training center in Tripoli, Peloponnese, Greece in September 2025.
