Greece is preparing to significantly expand its domestic military drone production, with state-run defense facilities expected to manufacture as many as 15,000 drones annually once a new production unit becomes operational, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said.
Speaking on Thursday, September 3, during a visit to a military production facility near Xanthi in northern Greece, Dendias said the country’s existing facilities currently have the capacity to produce around 5,000 drones each year.
According to the minister, that figure is expected to triple following the opening of a third production facility in Malakasa, north of Athens, in December.
The expansion will mark a major step forward in Greece’s efforts to strengthen its domestic defense industry and increase the use of unmanned systems by the armed forces.
“We have reached the point where our armed forces are very quickly entering the new era,” Dendias said, highlighting the growing importance of drones for modern military operations.
“Drones allow us observation, scouting and aggressive abilities,” he added.
Dendias also pointed to the rapid development of Greece’s drone capabilities over the past few years.
At the end of 2023, Greece’s operational drone fleet included two Israeli made Heron medium altitude, long endurance drones, which could not be deployed simultaneously, as well as 252 industrially produced drones.
The minister described the latter systems as being relatively basic, jokingly comparing their quality to “Jumbo level,” a reference to the popular Greek low cost toy retailer.
New production facility in Malakasa
Dendias previously outlined plans for the new Malakasa facility during a foundation laying ceremony in June.
At the time, he said the facility would increase annual production of small military drones from approximately 4,000 to 10,000 units. It is also expected to produce around 600 larger drones each year.
The latest figures suggest Greece is now targeting an overall annual production capacity of up to 15,000 military drones once the country’s three facilities are operating at full capacity.
The expansion forms part of Greece’s broader effort to modernize its armed forces and develop greater domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.
Athens has already committed billions of euros to a major military modernization program, acquiring foreign made systems including French frigates and fighter aircraft, US made warplanes and advanced Israeli defense technologies.
The country is also developing a comprehensive air and missile defense network designed to counter threats from missiles and drones.
The increased focus on unmanned systems reflects the changing nature of modern warfare, with drones playing an increasingly important role in surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and combat operations.
