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New 12-Year Program: Made-in-Greece Defense Equipment and a Military Satellite

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize the need for the active involvement of the Greek defense industry in all major armament projects over the coming years. This applies both to the ReArm Europe initiative and national arms procurement programs. He will address this issue in a scheduled parliamentary discussion on defense acquisitions.

Mitsotakis will outline the government’s long-term defense plans spanning 12 years. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will then present specific details in a closed-door session of the Parliament’s Armament Committee, as part of the Agenda 2030 strategy. The prime minister will state that the objective is for the domestic defense industry to participate in at least half of the upcoming armament programs.

Government sources told Proto Thema that, for the first time, a long-term defense doctrine is being presented, complete with concrete provisions extending beyond the current administration. They emphasize that, while respecting fiscal balance, operational needs will be fully met.

According to the same sources, a crucial factor was the activation of an escape clause that adds essential financial resources to the annual defense budget, totaling over €2.5 billion over the next decade.

Mitsotakis is expected to outline five key areas of national defense reinforcement:

1. Missile defense
2. Air defense
3. Anti-drone protection
4. Naval defense
5. Anti-submarine warfare

These five pillars will form the foundation of the new defense program, ensuring operational readiness in an evolving security landscape.

Additionally, there will be a strong emphasis on cyber warfare and satellite systems, alongside the acquisition of conventional weapons and ammunition for deep-strike capabilities. Mitsotakis will also highlight investment in innovation, including the establishment of the Hellenic Defense Innovation Center (ELKAK), which is set to complement traditional defense procurement programs.

A key milestone in this strategy was Mitsotakis’ recent visit to Israel, where he discussed defense cooperation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The talks particularly focused on an anti-drone defense system, which Greece aims to make fully operational by 2027.

Digital Warfare & Satellite Communications

A technological transformation is underway within the Greek Armed Forces, as modern digital applications redefine military operations, bringing the Pentagon into the era of 21st-century warfare.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has frequently referenced lessons from the war in Ukraine and military operations in the Middle East, emphasizing their impact on strategic planning.

Within this framework, intelligence gathering and secure communications have become an urgent priority. Dendias has announced the procurement of a dedicated military communications satellite, ensuring secure and interference-resistant data exchange across the Eastern Mediterranean.

Until recently, Greece and Cyprus relied on the Hellas Sat network, but they lacked a dedicated military-use satellite—a gap that will now be addressed. The Ukraine conflict demonstrated the vital role of satellite communications, proving their resilience against electronic warfare.

The new satellite will support a next-generation Command & Control (C2) system, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time battlefield management. This effort aligns with Greece’s recent Thorax program, which consolidates data from various intelligence sources, including:

• Radar systems
• Aerial and ground assets
• UAV surveillance
• Electronic monitoring
• Greek Armed Forces intelligence networks
• Police, Coast Guard, and Civil Protection agencies

Strategic Weapons & Long-Term Defense Spending

Beyond intelligence and digital warfare, strategic weapons acquisitions remain a core focus of the new defense program. Key procurements include:

• F-35 fighter jets
• Meteor missiles for Rafale aircraft
• Three FDI HN (Belh@rra) frigates, strengthening Greece’s naval power beyond the Aegean into the Eastern Mediterranean
• Scalp Naval cruise missiles, which Dendias has previously described as “Greece’s next-generation strategic weapons”

The long-term defense budget is expected to surpass 2030, with planned expenditures increasing by €2.5 billion, following recent EU defense policy adjustments. The total program cost could exceed €20 billion, ensuring Greece maintains a modern, high-tech military force capable of meeting emerging security challenges.