Greece Plans Mass Production of Unmanned Naval Vessels

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Greece aims to make its Navy Europe’s leading force in developing autonomous maritime platforms by 2030, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, as he inaugurated a new joint training school for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems at the Kanellopoulos Naval Base in Skaramangas.

Dendias identified the accelerated development and operational deployment of autonomous and unmanned systems as a priority under Greece’s Agenda 2030 defence reform programme. He said the next step would involve producing large numbers of the Greek-designed Pyrpolitis unmanned surface vessel to strengthen the Hellenic Navy, alongside developing larger autonomous and unmanned vessels.

“The next step includes producing the Greek-designed unmanned vessel Pyrpolitis in large numbers to reinforce the Navy, as well as developing larger autonomous and unmanned vessels,” Dendias said.

The minister said Greece must develop its own defence technologies rather than rely solely on equipment acquired from abroad, even when foreign purchases include technology transfers and domestic production.

“We must develop the ability to design systems ourselves and produce systems ourselves,” he said.

Greece Develops Its Own Unmanned Naval Technology

Dendias presented the Pyrpolitis as an example of Greece’s growing domestic defence capabilities. The Hellenic Navy designed, developed and built the unmanned surface vessel in Greece, incorporating autonomous operating capabilities that have reached the final stage of testing, according to the minister.

The vessel can collect information, conduct surveillance and identify targets. It can also attack targets on the water.

The Navy has also recently evaluated an autonomous surface vessel capable of surveillance, reconnaissance and coordinated autonomous operations known as “swarming”, Dendias said.

He stressed that autonomous systems represent a further step beyond remotely operated or unmanned platforms. These systems use artificial intelligence while retaining human oversight, potentially expanding the Navy’s operational capabilities in the Aegean Sea.

Under Agenda 2030, Greece is establishing the infrastructure needed to modernise the armed forces through changes to organisation, training and joint operations, alongside the adoption of new technologies.

Dendias cited the establishment of the 309th Unmanned Systems Manufacturing Factory in June and the opening of a joint training centre for unmanned aerial vehicles in Tripoli in July. The new maritime school extends this programme to naval operations.

Autonomous Systems to Support Surveillance and Maritime Security

Dendias said unmanned and autonomous vehicles could undertake surveillance, reconnaissance, port protection, mine warfare and the protection of critical infrastructure.

By assigning some surveillance and patrol duties to these systems, the Navy could reduce the time personnel must spend at sea and ease operational demands on fleet crews.

He also emphasised the need to protect infrastructure beneath the sea, including energy and communications networks, alongside Greece’s national sovereignty and sovereign rights.

“The new Navy must be able to protect not only national sovereignty and sovereign rights, but also critical infrastructure, such as energy and communications networks on the seabed,” he said.

Greece is also seeking to strengthen its conventional naval capabilities. Dendias referred to the forthcoming raising of the Greek flag on the frigate Nearchos in France.

He also reported an initial understanding reached during recent talks in Venice with Italy’s defence minister and the Italian Navy chief concerning the transfer of a number of mine-countermeasure vehicles to Greece to address operational needs.

Greece Seeks European Leadership by 2030

Dendias said Greece aims to become the European Union’s strongest force in the operational use of autonomous vehicles by 2030, with the Navy leading Europe in autonomous platform development.

The programme extends beyond maritime operations to land, sea and air systems, with the common objective of improving operational effectiveness and deterrence.

The minister said Greece did not threaten any country but sought to defend its constitutional and legal rights. He added that achieving the government’s objectives would depend on personnel with the necessary knowledge, skills, determination and capabilities.

The new school will help provide the training required to operate and maintain unmanned and autonomous systems, including basic repair work.

New School Demonstrates Maritime Systems

Following the inauguration, Dendias attended a static display of unmanned and autonomous maritime equipment. Demonstrations included the Pyrpolitis and Corsair surface systems, as well as the Pluto Plus and Plutino underwater systems.

He toured the school’s facilities and received briefings from Rear Admiral Stefanos Sarris, commander of the Naval Training Command, and Captain Eleftherios Zervas, commander of the Palaskas Training Centre. Officers also explained maintenance procedures, basic repairs and practical training methods.

The minister then watched demonstrations of the school’s main simulators and an operational scenario involving unmanned vessels and underwater systems at the Naval Training Command’s maritime testing area.

Senior military leaders, parliamentarians, local government representatives and former defence officials attended the ceremony, including Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis and Chief of the Hellenic Navy Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras.

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