The Ministers of National Defence and Development, Nikos Dendias and Takis Theodorikakos respectively, signed the “Thorax” agreement, which is financed by the Ministry of Development with 48,950,000 Euros, with funds of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The ceremony took place in the event room of the Ministry of Development and was attended by the Deputy Minister of Development Stavros Kalafatis, Directors General of Private Investments Stellina Siarapi, Research and Innovation Tasos Gaitanis, and National Defence Antonios Ikonomou, as well as by representatives of the contractors, namely Alexandros Bregiannis of NOVA and Alexandros Koutris of Cosmos Business Systems.
“This system collects data with all available sensors we possess: Ground and aerial radars, UAVs, observation posts, electronic assets of all institutions, not just the Armed Forces, the Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, and Civil Protection”. The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias underlined that: “It categorises, prioritises, and edits the collected data, by obviously utilising Artificial Intelligence, and presents this advanced product to the necessary institutions, which are responsible for making decisions”.
The Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos pointed out that: “Patriotism is the foremost value we serve and which characterises every aspect of our policy in the Ministry of Development. The best, most timeless, and strategic defence is economic development, investments, work positions in remote areas, policies that contribute in facing the demographic issue and in reducing social and peripheral inequalities”.
Complete address by Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias
“I would like to publicly thank the Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos, and his colleagues, for the achievement of today’s result. Namely, for all their attempts during this time period, so that we can reach the signing of the agreement regarding the THORAX programme today. What is the THORAX Programme? It is a significant part of the “Agenda 2030”. It is a complete information support and decision making system by the Armed Forces of our Country.
This system collects data with all available sensors we possess: Ground and aerial radars, UAVs, observation posts, electronic assets of all institutions, not just the Armed Forces, the Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, and Civil Protection”. It categorises, prioritises, and edits the collected data, by obviously utilising Artificial Intelligence, and presents this advanced product to the necessary institution, which is responsible for making decisions. In addition, it facilitates the decision making process, through the incorporation of operational procedures.
All this sounds extremely complex, but it is also absolutely necessary. There are no Armed Forces, and I dare say that there is no modern
state in the 21st century, without those capabilities. So, everything we do within the framework of the “Agenda 2030” reform would be of very limited significance, were it not combined with such a system.
Because of this, I consider today a very significant day. Mr. Minister, I would also like to thank the outgoing Deputy Minister, Zoi Rapti, because she had also cooperated in our efforts to reach where we are today. Closing, I would like to say that the “Agenda 2030” has a unique quality for the history of modern Greece. It leads to the creation of the most powerful Armed Forces that we ever had.
And it is particularly gratifying to say this on the eve of the 25th of March”.
Complete address by Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos
“It is a special day for the Ministry of Development, as we sign the agreement for the implementation of an innovative and cutting-edge programme – the THORAX programme-, along with the Minister of National Defence, something that is of utmost importance for national security.
It is a programme, which is financed with 48,950,000 Euros from the programme of the Ministry of Development, with funds of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It is a honour for us to enhance the security of our country and national defence in action.
The “THORAX” programme shapes the infrastructure and the procedures necessary so that all available data – whether it comes from the Armed Forces, Civil Protection or the Hellenic Coast Guard – can be accumulated, evaluated in conjunction and offered to the personnel, which is responsible for handling incidents related to national security.
Whether that is a military threat, or criminal network movements, such as traffickers and smugglers, or even emergencies.
Thus, we are decisively upgrading our operational capabilities to the benefit of our national sovereignty, the citizens, and the personnel serving in the Armed Forces, the Fire Service, and the Hellenic Coast Guard. So that they can be most effective and safe while doing their work.
The foremost value that we serve as a party and government must be – and it is – patriotism, as it happens for all Greeks. And this is a value that characterises all aspects of our policy in the Ministry of Development.
I would like to point our that supporting the country’s remote areas with new investments and with the creation of thousands of quality work positions, constitutes a de facto significant contribution to the reducing of peripheral and social inequalities, facing the demographic issues, but also to national defence and security.
We have immeasurable respect for the work of the Armed Forces and the Hellenic Police near the borders, as regards the deterrence of illegal immigration waves and of any kind of danger. However, there is no doubt that the best, most timeless, and strategic defence is economic development, work positions, and new technologies in remote areas.
And this is what we are subsidising and enhancing with the new developmental plan, which will be legislated in the near future and will develop in 2025, 2026, and 2027. It is a programme of 900 million Euros, which will mainly be distributed to remote areas.
We are absolutely bound by this mission, which contributes to national security and the future of Greece and Hellenism”.
