Greece launched a new plant to increase the industrial-scale production of drones. Credit: GreekReporter Archive
Greece inaugurated a new manufacturing plant on Friday to upgrade the production of drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or 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 in Greater Athens (Attica).
“Unmanned Systems and Unmanned Countermeasure Systems, i.e. anti-drones, are an integral part of the new operational concept of the Armed Forces,” Dendias 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 and cover an area of 2,800 square meters (almost 30,140 sq ft). The necessary steps are currently being taken so that work on the 309th Factory can begin within 2026.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias inaugurated a new drone manufacturing and R&D facility. Photo credit: AMNA
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…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 know it. Today’s ceremony marks 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 also touched on 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 in Greece will develop production lines for: class I and II drones, research and development of class III drones, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, Unmanned Surface Vessels, Unmanned Underwater Systems, and anti-drone manufacturing.
“A leap forward” in drone production in Greece
According to the Defense Minister, the goal is to increase the annual production of class I drones to at least ten thousand from the current four thousand, the annual production of at least three hundred class II drones, as well as three hundred ground vehicles and an equal number of anti-drones, while building up 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 square meters (38,750 sq ft) to develop on two levels. This will constitute the core of the complex, housing advanced production lines, Research and Development areas, Laboratories and Test Centers.
In addition to an increase in production, its construction will also allow for new specialized R&D capabilities as well as 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.”
No próximo dia 16 de junho, feriado municipal de Olhão, a Ria Formosa volta a ser palco da 13.ª edição da Travessia a Nado Farol-Olhão, uma prova que liga a Ilha do Farol à zona ribeirinha da cidade e que reúne vários nadadores em mais um desafio de resistência.
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