Greece on Friday inaugurated a new manufacturing plant to upgrade the production of drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs) on an industrial scale. Greek Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias led the inauguration ceremony of the 309th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Plant in Malakasa, Attica.

“Unmanned Systems and Unmanned Countermeasure Systems, i.e. anti-drones, are an integral part of the new operational concept of the Armed Forces,” , the defense minister stated. “The new Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Factory is coming to transform an initial capability into an industrial-scale production. It is the first large industrial installation of the Greek Armed Forces that is completely specialized in the manufacturing of Unmanned Vehicles.”

The project inaugurated includes two distinct interventions in the Armed Forces Camp: Complete reconstruction and modernization of the old facilities of the Camp, with restoration of its static adequacy, as well as external and internal damages. The facilities will be converted into modern production, support, and technical work areas.

The facility covers an area of ​​2,800 sq. m. and the necessary actions are underway so that the works for the 309th Factory can begin within 2026.

More production lines and RD facilities

The Greek Defense Minister spoke about the new facility being part of the new Armed Forces project:

“The “2030 Agenda” is a holistic program for the protection of our homeland with a specific design. The “Achilles Shield” project, which extends to the sea, on land, in the air, but now also in cyberspace and space. And it has a basic concept, a basic parameter: the change of everything as we knew it. Today’s ceremony signals this program. Unmanned Systems and Systems for Countering Unmanned Systems, i.e. anti-drones, are an integral part of the new concept of operations. Autonomous Systems in the air, at sea, and on land, are the organic element of the modern operational environment, across the entire spectrum of missions.”

Dendias added the importance of the Greek Armed Forces being prepared to respond to international threats: “A country that has received an active threat against it, does not have the luxury of passively monitoring what is happening.”

The new facilities will develop production lines for class I and II drones, for research and development of class III drones, for Unmanned Ground Vehicles, for Unmanned Surface Vessels, for Unmanned Underwater Systems, as well as for the manufacture of anti-drones.

“A leap forward”

The Defense Minister said that the goal is to increase the annual production of class I drones to at least 10,000 from the current 4,000, the annual production of at least 300 class II drones, 300 ground vehicles and 300 anti-drones, while creating the capabilities for Research and Development of Surface Vessels and Submarine Vessels.

The second major intervention is the construction of a new building with a total area of ​​3,600 sq. m. to develop on two levels. It will constitute the core of the complex, housing advanced production lines, Research and Development areas, Laboratories and Test Centers.

Its construction will allow other than production increase, new specialized R&D capabilities, close cooperation with the defense industry and the country’s research institutions.

“Today,” Dendias emphasized, “we are taking a big step forward. I dare say, a leap. This new Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Factory is coming to transform an initial capability into an industrial-scale production. It is the first large industrial installation of the Greek Armed Forces, which is completely specialized in the manufacturing of Unmanned Vehicles. The 309th Unmanned Vehicle Systems Factory.”

Turkey denied that its jets harassed the military aircraft carrying Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his French and Dutch counterparts to Cyprus.

Earlier, it was reported that the “control tower” of the illegal Tymbou Airport in occupied Cyprus attempted to jam the aircrafts’ communications system. Furthermore, according to Philenews, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets scrambled from Tymbou, tracking the official state aircraft of the European ministers from a distance as they headed toward Cyprus.

A statement from the Turkish Presidency said that “claims in certain news media and social media accounts” about such harassment on Sunday and about Turkish warplanes violating Greek airspace were “completely false.”

The statement said that four of the six aircraft heading from Greece to Cyprus “breached the airspace” of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, and as a result two Turkish F-16 fighters took off from the ethnically divided island’s north “as a precaution.”

It said the F-16s did not enter Cypriot airspace and “there was no harassment” of the four aircraft.

The incident took place just hours before France and Cyprus were set to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) on Monday, which will allow Paris to station military forces on the island.

France and Cyprus to sign military deployment agreement

The agreement will be signed in Nicosia by French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin and her Cypriot counterpart, Vassilis Palmas. Both ministers are scheduled to attend an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Defense) on the same day.

The Turkish Cypriot side condemned the agreement as “null, void, and legally invalid.” They expressed concerns that the deal could alter the balance of power on the island, disregard Turkish Cypriot rights, and escalate regional tensions. They further argued that the Republic of Cyprus lacks the authority to sign such an agreement on behalf of the entire island.

Related: Turkey Deploys Six F-16s to Occupied Northern Cyprus