The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, and the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, visited today, Good Wednesday 8 April 2026, the 306 Telecommunications Base Plant, in Acharnes, where the Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Workshop operates.
During his visit to the Plant’s installations, Mr. Dendias was briefed by the Commanding General of the Hellenic Army Support Command, Lieutenant General Athanasios Saplaouras, the Director HAGS/D5, Brigadier General Apostolos Konstantopoulos, and the Commander of 306 Telecommunications Base Plant, Lieutenant Colonel (Tech) Sophia Papazoglou, on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle prototypes which have already been completed, the production process, the expansion of the production line, including the operation of the Mobile Drone Manufacture Units, which are autonomous and completely functional mobile units for the manufacture, repair, adjustments and trials of Unmanned Systems on the field. These Units have been designed and developed by 306 TBP in cooperation with the Hellenic Defence Ecosystem.
Subsequently, Mr. Dendias visited the Research and Development Laboratories of the Unmanned Systems, where he was extensively briefed on the development of new models with innovative technologies.
In the framework of the visit, a direct VTC was held with 316 Technical Area Workshop in Toxotes, Xanthi, during which the Workshop’s Commander, Lieutenant Colonel (Tech) Nikolaos Sakalis, gave a briefing on the production capabilities of Unmanned Systems.
After the briefing, the Minister of National Defence stated:
“It is a great joy to be here today, on Good Wednesday, at the 306 Telecommunications Base Plant.
Here, as in the 316 Plant in Xanthi, we can witness a great step taken towards the transition of our Country’s Armed Forces into the new era. A great step for the “Agenda 2030”.
Two drone Production Plants have been created here, and also, as you see, we are in the process of developing drone production stations with the use of 3D printing technologies which, in a first phase, will accompany our great Formations and, in a second one, all the Hellenic Army’s Brigades.
Or, to put it simply, we have created two drone production plants, we have created two Mobile Units for drone production, and we are in the process, on one hand, of increasing the productive capabilities of both our Plants and, on the other, of creating mobile production units, which will accompany all the Hellenic Army’s Brigades in real time.
Every Brigade will be capable of producing and repairing drones on the field.
I would also like to state that 306 Base Plant, in the three months since I last visited, has multiplied its productive capability.
At this moment our productive capability, which was previously 1,000 drones per annum, has reached 4,000.
And we will continue to develop, in geometric progression, until we achieve our goal.
A crucial role in these efforts has been played by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation, as well as by the Hellenic Research Technological Development and Innovation Centre of our Country’s Armed Forces.
It is obvious we are standing before a new era and new challenges. Immense challenges.
Our Country, in order to be able to have a reliable force of deterrence, or to put it simply, to be able to survive in this modern environment, where right is retreating, and the sole, or near sole arbiter is might, ought to adapt to the new possibilities.
This is what the personnel of our Armed Forces does, by developing its own capabilities of drone and anti-drone systems production, in order not to be at the mercy of foreign suppliers, not to be in need of procuring out of foreign markets, and thus waste the Greek taxpayer’s hard earned money abroad.
I would cordially like to, besides offering my wishes for a Happy Easter, thank the women and men who in a very short period of time, have internalised these capabilities, and are developing them in the best way possible. I would also like to pass on to them the pride of our Government, and I think that of Greek society as a whole, for the work they are accomplishing.
