Greece is accelerating plans to build a home-grown defence industry after the successful field test of its anti-drone system, Centauros, which brought down two aerial drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis during a European Union patrol mission in the Red Sea last year.
Developed by state-run Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), Centauros jammed two additional drones mid-flight, demonstrating its electronic warfare capabilities. “It’s the only battle-proven anti-drone system made in Europe,” said Kyriakos Enotiadis, HAI’s electronics director.
Capable of detecting drones from up to 150 km and firing from a 25 km range, Centauros is now central to Greece’s €30 billion defence modernization programme, which aims to transform the country’s military capabilities by 2036. The system will be installed across the Greek naval fleet.
Greece currently relies heavily on foreign-made intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones, mostly from France and Israel. But that is set to change as Athens invests in domestic innovation to develop its own combat UAVs, anti-drone systems, and even a planned anti-aircraft ballistic shield dubbed Achilles Shield.
The push comes amid longstanding tensions with NATO ally and regional rival Turkey, which has become one of the world’s leading drone exporters. Greece spends nearly 3.5% of its GDP on defence, yet local industry still contributes a small portion to that total.
To close the gap, the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI), newly established under the Defence Ministry, plans to invest €800 million in research and development over the next decade. “Our target is to export as much as we spend on defence annually,” said HCDI CEO Pantelis Tzortzakis.
Private sector players are also rising. Greek firm Altus, in partnership with France’s MBDA, has developed Kerveros, a vertical take-off and landing combat drone capable of carrying over 30 kg, including anti-tank missiles. Altus co-owner Zacharias Sarris said the company is already exporting ISR drones to five countries and expects the domestic market to grow rapidly.
Looking ahead, HAI plans to begin mass-producing two portable anti-drone systems, Iperion and Telemachus, in 2026, targeting protection against drone swarms and mini drones. That same year, the company will unveil Archytas, its first large-scale UAV, named after the ancient Greek inventor credited with creating one of the earliest flying machines.
“We are striving for this UAV to be the best of its kind,” said Nikos Koklas, HAI’s director of new products, underlining the country’s renewed commitment to becoming a leader in defence technology.
Written By Rodney Mbua
