Greece launches armed drone tender
Greece’s Defense Innovation Center (HCDI) has launched a competition for developing an armed unmanned combat aerial vehicle, marking a significant step in the country’s push to build advanced domestic defense technology.
The HCDI announced the tender for a weaponized drone system similar to Turkey’s Bayraktar Akinci UCAV, which has gained prominence in recent conflicts.
The initiative reflects Greece’s urgent need to modernize its military capabilities and connect domestic industry with armed forces requirements. The timing coincides with billions of euros in European Union defense spending expected before the year’s end.
Major European defense companies are already forming consortiums that will include Greek firms, creating opportunities for domestic participation in larger projects.
HCDI has identified over 300 Greek companies and research groups with defense or dual-use capabilities across 12 technology sectors. The organization has already launched several flagship programs, including for cargo drones, naval vessels, precision loitering munitions and unmanned surface vessels.
The 2025 Research and Development Program adds maritime surveillance systems for protecting critical infrastructure, modular 5G networks and SAR-based intelligence satellites to priority projects.
Greece’s defense ministry aims to strengthen existing companies while creating conditions for new firms with export potential. The armed drone project represents a crucial test for the domestic defense industry, which must develop solutions meeting both national needs and international competitiveness standards.
The unmanned platform initiative addresses growing recognition that drones have become indispensable in modern warfare and strategic competition.
