Greece is bolstering its military capabilities with the establishment of a second drone production unit, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced during a visit to military facilities in Xanthi, northern Greece. The new Category 1 FPV (First-Person View) drone production unit, capable of manufacturing up to 1,000 drones per month, represents a significant leap forward in equipping the country’s Armed Forces for modern-day challenges.
During his visit to the 316 Technical Area Workshop in Toxotes, Dendias underscored the strategic importance of the initiative. “This is a significant step forward in enhancing the operational capabilities of our Armed Forces,” he stated, highlighting the unit’s role in meeting the demands of a new era in defence.
Accompanied by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis, the commander of the 1st Army “Achilles” Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, and the commander of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, Dendias toured the workshop facilities. He engaged with military personnel and conscripts, and enjoyed traditional Christmas carols performed by the Support Brigade choir.
The 316 Workshop is set to develop an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Department, which will significantly enhance the Hellenic Army’s operational capabilities. This department will be equipped to manufacture drones using components produced through 3D printing technologies, assemble and fully integrate their electronic and electromechanical systems, and provide immediate repairs of electronic and mechanical subsystems. Additionally, it will conduct inspections and testing of systems before deployment, support the installation and configuration of mission-specific software, and offer specialised training for drone operators.
A key feature of the workshop will be its Mobile UAS Construction Unit, a fully autonomous and self-sufficient mobile facility. Designed for on-site manufacturing, repair, calibration, and testing of drones in the field, this system is of Greek design and construction. It can be deployed to forward areas within the operational theatre of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace and is capable of producing spare parts directly in operational conditions.
Following his visit, Dendias thanked the personnel for their service and extended holiday wishes, emphasising that Thrace is a region of “huge geopolitical importance” as “the border of Greece and Europe.”
The defence minister later visited the headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, where he exchanged greetings with staff and attended a Christmas carol performance by the command’s band in the presence of Xanthi Mayor Stratos Kontos. He also visited the Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Peritheorio, where he met Metropolitan Panteleimon and exchanged wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
This strategic investment in drone technology underscores Greece’s commitment to modernising its defence capabilities and ensuring the readiness of its Armed Forces. The new production unit not only enhances Greece’s military prowess but also positions the country as a key player in the evolving landscape of military technology.