Not only is U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly seeking answers from the U.S. Space Force regarding the progress of Iran’s nuclear program “from space,” but the Hellenic Armed Forces are also looking beyond Earth for answers concerning the origin, construction, and operation of the maritime drone discovered inside a cave on the island of Lefkada.

Although the vessel is clearly an unmanned surface vehicle based on Ukrainian technology, its construction materials are dual-use, meaning they are commercially available and can also be found on the civilian market.

At the same time, the satellite technology used for its navigation is commercially accessible — but it may also prove to be the key weakness in identifying it.

Specifically, both the satellite dish and the router that allowed the sea drone to communicate with its operator bear unique serial numbers, which Greek authorities have reportedly already identified.

This effectively means that Greek authorities can use those serial numbers to formally request the equipment’s operational history and trace its user, since the serial numbers allow complete identification.

Dendias: “We Know What It Is and Roughly What It Contains”

Meanwhile, when asked about the discovery of the sea drone, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias commented: “We know what it is and we roughly know what it contains,” given that the vessel was transported — after the explosives it carried were safely deactivated — to Armed Forces facilities in Athens.

From the very first moment it was discovered, military sources reportedly considered the incident serious, partly because such maritime drones are capable of storing their hiding locations in memory even if their satellite connection is interrupted.

As a result, they can remain concealed but operational in pre-selected positions determined by their operators, while still carrying significant quantities of explosives.

Gikas: Possible Tightening of Security Measures

Speaking to ERT News, Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Stefanos Gikas described the case as “a very serious matter.”

He added:
“Greek authorities have been fully engaged with this issue from the very beginning. They are examining which country manufactured it, trying to determine how it ended up here and what its mission was. The investigation is currently ongoing.”

Regarding the motives behind the drone’s presence near Lefkada, Gikas said:
“There are various scenarios. The prevailing scenario is that, because there are movements of the Russian shadow fleet in the wider southeastern Mediterranean and there have been recent attacks, the Ukrainians may have transferred such explosive-laden drones in order to create problems for Russian ships.”

At the same time, he left open the possibility of stricter security measures should new information emerge.

“If we see that this is something that could happen again, then the security measures will change and surveillance levels will be increased,” Gikas stated.