An anti-drone system named after the mythical creature – half man, half horse – symbolising untamed forces of nature is placing Greece on the map of next-generation defence technology. It uses electronic warfare to disable threats without firing a single shot.
Greece is drawing growing global attention for its Centauros anti-drone system, a cost-effective platform that has already demonstrated its capabilities in combat operations against Houthi drones in the Red Sea.
Developed by the state-owned Hellenic Aircraft Industry (EAV), the system takes a different approach to air defence. Instead of relying on missiles, Centauros neutralises unmanned aerial vehicles by disrupting their communication and navigation signals, effectively rendering them inoperable.
Kyriakos Enotiadis, director of EAV’s electronics sector, said the system has attracted interest well beyond Greece and Cyprus, with countries including Armenia and several Gulf states closely monitoring its performance. “It is a system that is battle-tested” and cost-effective compared to traditional methods, he said.
At its core, Centauros detects and jams radio signals emitted by drones from long distances, giving operators valuable time to respond.
“We are talking about an electronic warfare system that has the ability to pick up the radio waves of a UAV from very long distances, giving reaction time to shoot it down much more easily and quickly, without consuming ammunition,” Enotiadis said.
Its most significant advantage lies in its operating cost. Unlike missile-based systems, Centauros “consumes only electricity,” dramatically reducing the expense of countering increasingly cheap and disposable drone threats.
With an operational range of between 25 and 40 kilometres, the system can engage multiple targets at once, forming what Enotiadis described as a “very large umbrella of protection” with effectively no limit on the number of drones it can neutralise within its coverage zone.
The system has already been tested in real-world conditions. In July 2024, the Greek frigate Psara deployed Centauros during EU Operation Aspides in the Gulf of Aden, countering Houthi drone attacks. The vessel engaged four drones, successfully downing two while forcing the others to retreat. Some of these interceptions were carried out solely using the Centauros system.
Enotiadis noted that traditional responses to such threats have come at enormous cost, with millions spent intercepting relatively inexpensive drones. In contrast, a power-based system offers a far more sustainable solution.
Centauros is designed with flexibility in mind. It can be installed on fixed infrastructure, mounted on vehicles for mobile deployment, or integrated into naval platforms. Originally conceived as an onboard system, it was rapidly adapted for maritime use and fitted onto frigates.
Development remains ongoing, reflecting the rapid pace of change in drone technology. “Drones change technology every six months,” Enotiadis said, underscoring the need for continuous upgrades. The system forms part of a broader electronic warfare push that includes programmes such as Hyperion and Telemachus.
The investment behind such innovations is significant. Greece plans to allocate €800 million (approximately AUD $1.32 billion) to defence innovation over the next decade, within a wider €30 billion (approximately AUD $49.5 billion) military modernisation programme running through to 2036.
At an estimated cost of €2 million (approximately AUD $3.3 million) per unit, Centauros presents a markedly cheaper alternative to conventional air defence systems—an increasingly important factor as militaries worldwide adapt to the realities of drone warfare.
