The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, today 23 March 2026, attended the celebration of “World Meteorological Day 2026”, organised by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service and the Hellenic Meteorological Society. There, he was received by the Chief of Staff/HAFGS Major General Matthaios Kanoupakis (HAF), and the Commander of the National Meteorological Service Colonel (Met) Ilias Patsiouras (HAF).
Mr. Davakis, following the end of the celebration, stated the following:
“In recent years, climate change has impacted our country many times, by the manifestation of ever more extreme weather phenomena, which test the endurance of our infrastructure and endanger the security of our citizens.
Under these circumstances, the National Meteorological Service is a crucial one, contributing decisively to forecasting, timely warning, and, by extension, to safeguarding human life and national activity.
The Government, recognising the strategic importance of the National Meteorological Service, systematically promotes actions for its modernisation and operational reinforcement. Heading towards this direction, through the “AIGIS” Civil Protection Programme, we are materialising a programme of procurement and installation of seven modern, meteorological radars, with a projected implementation timeframe until the end of 2026, meaningfully reinforcing the capabilities of timely warning and management of dangerous weather phenomena at a national level.
In the meanwhile, the National Meteorological Service is developing a short-term forecast system (NOWCASTING), which, in the “ENGAGE” system will provide the Civil Protection operational bodies with specialised products, giving access to an important instrument for timely warning concerning dangerous weather phenomena.
The National Meteorological Service, as an organic part of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff and the Ministry of National Defence, is fulfilling a mission of high responsibility, contributing to the operational readiness of the Armed Forces, as much as to the citizens’ daily lives.
I would like to congratulate the personnel of the National Meteorological Service, military and civilian, who, with scientific training, professionalism and a feeling of duty, fulfil their mission punctually and responsibly, under challenging, and constantly shifting conditions. Their contribution to forecasting and timely warning for extreme weather phenomena is priceless”.
