On Thursday 13 March 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visited the 11th Guided Missile Battalion at Heraklion, Crete.
The Minister of National Defence, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Gregoriadis made a tour at the premises of the Battalion.
The MPs from Heraklion Konstantinos Kefalogiannis and Maximos Senetakis were also present.
During his visit, the Minister was briefed by the Battalion’s Commander, Colonel (Tactical Air Controller) Georgios Tzorbatzakis and the Commander of the 133 Combat Group Colonel Vasileios Kroustalis, on the organisation, the mission, the work and the current operational and training activities.
Mr. Dendias, in his address to the personnel of the Battalion, pointed out:
“Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be here today in Heraklion, Crete. In a place (it is common knowledge, I am just stating the obvious) of great value, great strategic importance for the country, for our Homeland. Especially due to the geopolitical environment of the wider region, Crete gains even greater importance. If this could ever be possible as, through the centuries, the position of Crete is unique.
The geopolitical uncertainty and general situation requires of the country to be able to develop skills which it did not have until now.
In a few days, the Prime Minister will inform the Hellenic Parliament on the new Long Term Project of Defence Armaments of our Country.
A project that includes advanced protection as well, from the air, the “Achilles Shield” -you have heard it- consists of five steps. Three of them refer to missile defence, antiaircraft and anti-drone protection. There are two more: the anti-ship and the antisubmarine protection. It is though a unique new approach regarding the Armaments of our Country.
We must have modern systems, flexible, able to face the challenges, because readiness to face any challenge is what will finally deter it.
Preparation and the appropriate systems is what leads to peace. This is the goal of the “Agenda 2030”.
A while ago, at a secret briefing, I had the opportunity to see the services you currently provide to the Country, ascertaining that it is an extremely important task. I also saw how you manage to face the very many obstacles in maintaining the systems that come from countries that no longer provide us spare parts and Follow on Support (FOS).
I would like to congratulate you for your services and for the work you perform. To congratulate you for the result you have achieved in these extremely difficult conditions and ask you to keep on serving the Country with ardour and devotion.
Thank you”.
