Today, Thursday 25 June 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended the briefing given to the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Hellenic Naval Academy on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Training Programme “MIT TRITON Summer School: Marine Robotics & Autonomous Systems Training Program”, which is held at the Hellenic Naval Academy.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of National Defence, was extensively briefed on the current training programme by Michael Triantafyllou, Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor of Ocean Science and Engineering at MIT, and Michael Benjamin, Principal Research Scientist at MIT. They then attended a demonstration of the capabilities of unmanned surface vehicles.

This training programme is an initiative of the Ministry of National Defence and is directly connected to its guidelines, within the framework of the implementation of the “Agenda 2030”, since it serves the incorporation of innovation, the upgrade of personnel skills, and the transition of the Armed Forces into the new era.

The action is implemented by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI) within the framework of its mission to transfer international know-how, upgrade the skills of the Armed Forces’ personnel, and enhance defence innovation in critical technologies, in cooperation with MIT and with the logistical support of the Hellenic Naval Academy, which emerges as a node of technological training, joint cooperation, and transfer of international know-how in the area of naval power.

The programme includes personnel from the Hellenic Army, the Hellenic Navy, the Hellenic Air Force, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Hellenic Naval Academy, the National Technical University of Athens, and private organisations of the marine technology ecosystem. The training modules combine theoretical training, laboratory testing, and practical application using robotic vehicles. Participants are trained on the design, integration, practical application, and operational use of marine robotics systems and autonomous systems.

In his address during the briefing with the Prime Minister, the Professors, Hellenic Navy officers, and Hellenic Naval Academy cadets, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:

“First of all, I would like to thank Professor Triantafyllou, as well as Dr. Benjamin, primarily for their willingness to help. Second, Prime Minister, for the fact that they opened up the MIT Marine Lab for me, explained what they do, and were kind enough to come to Greece to teach our own students at the Hellenic Naval Academy and civilian scientists, as well as personnel from the other Military Academies, and create here, at the Hellenic Naval Academy, an advanced lab, similar to the MIT Lab, which will be able to provide our personnel and the next generations, not just our current personnel, with the ability to create original new technology and new technology in autonomous marine systems. I think this is a leap for us, it is not obvious, but it is a leap for our country. Again, kind thanks Mr. Triantafyllou.”

After the briefing, during the joint statement with the Prime Minister, Mr. Dendias stated the following:

“It is my great pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, here at the Hellenic Naval Academy for something unique for our country. A series of seminars by distinguished MIT Professors to the Greek cadets, as well as to personnel from the other Academies, the Hellenic Air Force Academy and the Hellenic Military Academy, on the new reality: the creation of autonomous system swarm know-how, at sea and beyond. Thus, we bring our cadets into contact with the new reality, the new operational reality. We bring our country into the new era. The MIT Professors, led by Professor Triantafyllou, he is a Greek and we are very grateful for the cooperation that has developed with the MIT, had the opportunity to demonstrate to the Prime Minister how this new technology affects the conduct of operations at sea and how this can constitute a huge advantage for our country. Prime Minister, thank you for your presence here and the fact that you value this new great effort made by the Ministry of National Defence, the Hellenic Navy, our country.”

The Prime Minister’s visit to the Hellenic Naval Academy was also attended by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou, the Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados, MP Nikolaos Vlachakos, the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, the General Secretary for National Security Thanos Dokos, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Director of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff F Branch, Major General Georgios Panousis, the Commandant of the Hellenic Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Ioannis Retsas HN, the CEO of the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation Pantelis Tzortzakis, members of the Supreme Naval Council, general and senior officers of the Hellenic Navy, officers, and participants in the MIT training programme.