The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, attended today, Friday 12 June, the foundation-laying ceremony of the 309th Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Factory in Malakasa, Attica.

Also present at the ceremony were the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios–Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Air Vice Marshal (I) Vasileios Broumas, representing the Chief of the Air Force General Staff, as well as senior officers of all three branches of the Armed Forces.

Speech by Nikos Dendias

Mr. Dendias, in his greeting during the ceremony, stated:

“It is a great honour for me, but I must say even more, a great pleasure to be present at today’s event.

As we have discussed many times, the ‘Agenda 2030’ is a holistic architecture for the protection of our homeland.

With a specific design, the ‘Shield of Achilles’, which extends across the sea, land, air, and now also into cyberspace and space. It is based on a fundamental concept: changing everything as we knew it. This is also what today’s ceremony signifies.

Unmanned systems and counter-unmanned systems, i.e. anti-drones, constitute an integral part of the new operational concept.

Autonomous systems in the air, sea, and land are an organic element of the modern operational environment across the entire mission spectrum. I would like to note that in the recent incident of a US helicopter crash in the Strait of Hormuz, the rescue was carried out by an unmanned system.

Furthermore, unmanned systems relate to surveillance, reconnaissance, infrastructure protection, countering asymmetric threats, and of course data transfer and, consequently, precision strikes against targets.

And we, a country that has been threatened and continues to face an ongoing threat, do not have the luxury of passively observing developments. We must participate, and not only as buyers and users of systems—no matter how good we may be at that. We must participate as a country that produces, designs, and develops. This is one of the clear, stated objectives of ‘Agenda 2030’: the creation of domestic production capability, especially in this critical field for deterrence and our operational autonomy.

The results are visible and measurable, because the beginning has already been made.

In a very short time, the 306th Base Factory and the 316th Base Factory have acquired the capacity to produce, as we speak—within a span of two years—4,000 FPV, category-1 drones.

Moreover, with the addition of six mobile production units, this capability gains dispersion, flexibility, operational depth, and enables formation commanders to decide exactly what they need, to adapt software to operational requirements in very short time, without the need for lengthy approval procedures from the General Staff or political leadership.

Here we are innovating. I must say I have not seen another army that has developed this capability: integrating design and production capacity within our own units, decentralising our capabilities. For now we are doing this in the Army, but I hope very soon we will do the same in the Navy and the Air Force.

I would also like to note that, following today’s foundation ceremony, two more ceremonies will take place in the coming days: the inauguration of the Air Force Unmanned Systems School in Tripoli, and the corresponding School at the “Kanellopoulos” Naval Base in Skaramangas, for the Navy. Because we will produce them, but we must also have the personnel capable of using them operationally, in combat conditions.

And this comes in addition to the already introduced drone training within the framework of the New Conscription model.

This is therefore a holistic approach, a completely different environment in which we must train our personnel and provide them with capabilities.

Today we are taking a major step forward. I would even dare say, if you allow me, a leap. This new Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Factory transforms an initial capability into industrial-scale production. It is the first major industrial installation of the Hellenic Armed Forces dedicated entirely to unmanned systems: the 309th Unmanned Systems Factory.

It is also inter-service, because for the first time here unmanned systems will be produced for the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. A fully vertically integrated industrial structure with a clear operational orientation, covering the full life cycle of each system: design, research, production, maintenance, upgrade, and operational use.

The project also has another model aspect: it makes use of existing inactive resources of the Armed Forces. This factory shell behind me had been abandoned for 46 years. We are bringing it back to life, giving it the life it deserves, to serve the needs of the Armed Forces.

The characteristics of the site are impressive. And it has been said that foundations are laid when funding and planning already exist. There is a specific timetable for completion, and I am confident we will beat it and move faster.

It must also be understood that a category-1 FPV drone is not a permanent asset like an aircraft or a weapon system. It is a consumable item, like a bullet. Therefore, large-scale mass production is required.

This conclusion has also been drawn from the last three wars, which perhaps we did not observe closely enough at the time: the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the current war in Iran.

Greece does not have unlimited resources. The Greek taxpayer already contributes what is possible to this major effort, which is part of our long-term planning. We never proceed with uncosted or fiscally unsound projects. However, I must also say that this gives the country depth and endurance, because what the war in Ukraine has shown is that countries must have not only capabilities but also the time to sustain them.

I conclude by saying the following: recently I have been reading a book by a well-known historian titled “Always in Hindsight”. It concerns Greek history and the challenges of the nation. Here we want to reverse that: always in foresight.

Thank you very much.”

The project that was founded

After the blessing ceremony, the project was presented by the Director of the III Branch of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Major General Dimitrios Kourkoulakos. This was followed by a demonstration of a drone swarm and the laying of the foundation stone by the Minister of National Defence.

The project includes two distinct but complementary interventions: the full reconstruction and modernization of the old camp facilities, restoring structural integrity and repairing external and internal damage. The facilities will be converted into modern production, support, and technical operation spaces.

The site covers an area of 2,800 square metres, and with secured funding, necessary procedures are underway for works on the 309th Factory to begin within 2026.

The new facilities will include production lines for class I and II drones, R&D for class III drones, unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, underwater unmanned systems, as well as anti-drone manufacturing.

The goal is to increase annual production of class I drones to at least 10,000 from 4,000 today, annual production of at least 300 class II drones, 300 ground vehicles, and 300 anti-drone systems, while also developing R&D capabilities for surface and underwater vessels.

The second major intervention concerns the construction of a new building with a total area of 3,600 square metres across two levels. It will serve as the core of the complex, housing advanced production lines, R&D areas, laboratories, and testing centres. Its construction will significantly increase production capacity and provide specialised R&D capabilities. It will also create new prospects for cooperation with the country’s defence industry and research institutions.