Drone systems were presented earlier this year. Credit: AMNA

Greece’s defense ministry converted an army facility to mass-produce drones, seen as a crucial strategic shift toward self-reliance and technological superiority, driven by the immediate lessons of the war in Ukraine.

The visit by Defence Minister Nikos Dendias to the 306 Telecommunications Base Factory (EBT) in Acharnes, near Athens, symbolises the era of transformation the Ministry of National Defence has been investing in over recent years.

The 306 EBT is currently capable of producing over 1,000 drones annually, primarily FPV (First Person View) models, which have proven to be extremely lethal and essential on the Ukrainian battlefield.

Greece to invest in drones and key defense technologies

Dendias was given a tour of the facilities, where he saw two prototype portable drone production stations. These stations, designed to be relocated to any point of a hypothetical front line to provide on-the-spot support for the war effort, will be displayed publicly for the first time in the October 28th parade in Thessaloniki.

Minister Dendias emphasized that this new operational model represents a “new concept that not only saves resources but changes the mentality of buying advanced technology products ‘off the shelf.’”

He stressed that the 306 EBT is not just producing the drones but is also developing their software, making it an integrated research, development, and production system. This model is intended to expand beyond the 306 EBT.

“This factory is the living proof of the transition of our country’s Armed Forces into the new era. The real, tangible implementation of ‘Agenda 2030,’” Dendias said.

The Defence Minister also laid out the rationale for this domestic drone production, noting, “We will continue this transition, because our country is a country facing a threat. And the hope for us to be able to deter threats throughout time is to develop our own Greek capabilities.”