A second Production Unit for Category 1 FPV (First-Person View) drones is being established at the 316th Technical Area Workshop in Toxotes, Xanthi, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, announced today.

The new unit will have the capacity to produce up to 1,000 drones per month, providing the country’s Armed Forces with capabilities suited to the demands of the new era. It represents a significant step forward in strengthening national defense readiness.

Accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, and in the presence of the Commander of the 1st Army “Achilleas,” Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, as well as the Commander of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, Mr. Dendias visited the 316th Technical Area Workshop and the headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace today, on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

During his visit to the 316th Technical Area Workshop, Mr. Dendias listened to traditional Christmas carols from Thrace and Corfu performed by the Support Brigade Choir. He also toured the workshop’s facilities and exchanged greetings with officers, personnel, and conscripts.

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Section at the 316th Technical Area Workshop in Xanthi was developed and completed in a short period of time, significantly enhancing the operational capabilities of the Army’s Land Forces.

The section is capable of manufacturing unmanned aerial systems through the production of components using 3D-printing technologies, as well as assembling and integrating their electronic and electromechanical systems.

It also provides for the immediate repair of electronic and mechanical subsystems, along with the inspection and testing of equipment used by units and personnel of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace.

In addition, the section supports the installation and configuration of UAS software tailored to the requirements of each mission and is able to provide specialized training to the personnel who operate these systems.

The 316th Technical Area Workshop also operates a Mobile UAS Construction Workshop—a self-contained, fully functional mobile unit capable of constructing, repairing, calibrating, and testing unmanned systems in the field.

This Greek-designed and manufactured system, similar to that of the 306th Telecommunications Base Factory, can be transported and deployed to forward positions within the area of responsibility of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace. It is energy self-sufficient and enables the production of spare parts directly in the operational environment.

At the conclusion of his visit, Mr. Dendias extended holiday wishes to the officers and thanked them “for their service to the homeland.”

Referring to Thrace, he emphasized that it is “a region of immense geopolitical importance,” describing it as “the border of Greece and Europe, and a region of great strategic significance.”

The Minister then visited the headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, where, in the presence of the Mayor of Xanthi, Stratos Kontos, the Command’s band performed Christmas carols in his honor. He subsequently exchanged greetings with the Command’s personnel.

As part of his visit, Mr. Dendias also called on the Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheori, where he met with His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon and exchanged Christmas and New Year wishes.