A New Era on Parade: Drones, AI Weapons and Anti-Drone Systems Take Centre Stage in Thessaloniki

For decades, the awe of Greece’s military parades has rested on the rhythmic march of the Navy SEAL, the thunder of armoured vehicles along the tarmac, and the roar of fighter jets overhead.

This year, however, the spectacle in Thessaloniki marking the anniversary of the 1940 “Epic of the ’40s” will be defined not by men or machines of the past, but by the cutting edge of military technology — drones, anti-drone systems, AI-powered weapons, and Greek-made innovations already tested in combat.

Tanks with ‘Awnings’

Among the ranks of Leopard tanks preparing for the parade, some now appear with curious metal mesh “canopies” above their turrets — contraptions that might seem suited for shade rather than war. In fact, they are Greek-made defensive “cages,” designed to counter drone and top-attack munitions, a low-cost yet effective adaptation seen on Ukrainian battlefields. These improvised or semi-industrial slat roofs, sometimes nicknamed cope cages by soldiers, cause premature detonation of incoming warheads and can save vehicles from otherwise fatal hits.

The ‘Centaur’ and ‘Hyperion’ Systems

Equally striking will be the public debut of Greece’s domestically developed anti-drone technologies. The “Centaur” system — tested with success on Navy frigates in the Red Sea — will be showcased mounted on an Army vehicle. Its companion, the “Hyperion” electronic warfare system, designed to neutralise enemy drones, will also make an appearance.

Flying Robots and Domestic Innovation

For the first time, drones and unmanned systems of Greek design and manufacture will roll through the streets or hover above them. The crowd will see the Archytas drone, mini-UAVs from the Naval Cadet School, and cutting-edge autonomous aircraft from both Greek and allied production lines.

Among the most anticipated is the Austrian-made Camcopter S-100, set to equip Greece’s new FDI frigates, and the A900 autonomous helicopter from the Greek company Altus — a long-standing NATO supplier. Overhead, the Israeli-built Heron UAV will perform a flyover, joined by the MALE drone system recently field-tested in combat.

Perhaps most futuristic of all, the V-BAT and vertical take-off drones — powered by artificial intelligence and capable of independent operations — will make their first public appearance, both on vehicles and in flight.

Missiles and Systems on Parade

Completing the display will be the Spike NLOS missile system from Israel’s Rafael, presented in full operational configuration — command stations, launchers, and vehicles carrying Orbiter 3 drones for targeting and guidance. Other advanced munitions, including Meteor, Scalp, AGM-88 HARM, Rampage, and SPICE guided bombs, will also be exhibited on vehicles and aircraft.