The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will visit the premises of the Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands, in order to attend the integration ceremony of two V-Bat unmanned systems, donated by Athanasios Laskaridis.

This is the new donation of Mr. Athanasios Laskaridis to the Hellenic Armed Forces, with the aim of equipping them with strategic military infrastructure, such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems that have changed the landscape in the early 21st century. These upgraded drones are intended for surveillance of the Aegean islands, North and South and Evros.

The two Unmanned (upgraded drones) V-Bat systems are VTOL (vertical take-off and landing), of US origin and are capable of operating in any terrain, with endurance of up to 10 hours and a maximum speed of up to 90 kilometers per hour. In addition, they are operational in environments with GPS and communications are blocked and they have infrared sensors, which allows them to carry out surveillance flights day and night. In addition they can carry special mission payloads.

Moreover, the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and modern air patrol means is one of the key innovations of the new Armed Forces Structure in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century, as the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, has repeatedly stressed. Indeed, given that the focus on cutting-edge defence technologies permeates all the government’s planning, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis seems to be closely monitoring the technological leap in the defence industry worldwide. In this context he has stated that, “I don’t want us to make the same mistakes in the age of artificial intelligence. If we are going to spend 28 billion over the next 12 years, as we plan to do, I want to at least make sure that there is a strong, thriving defence industry. From the ‘traditional’ – components, basic materials – to cutting-edge technology”.

Drones and…Bergamini frigates

Already, the Hellenic Army is to deploy full capabilities to utilize drones, not only reconnaissance, but also offensive, as well as anti-drone systems to counter enemy UAVs, as protothema.gr has reported, while anti-drone systems will also be deployed in the “Achilles’ Shield” (a.k.a. Hellenic Dome).

At the same time, discussions are intensifying for the acquisition of 2 + 2 FREMM Bergamini frigates from the Italian Navy, in the wake of the Prime Minister’s visit to Rome the day before yesterday, with the Greek side claiming priority over other interested parties.