Greece Breaks Ground on Its Largest Drone Factory Yet
Greece is ramping up its military drone production in a significant way. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias laid the foundation stone Friday for the country's third and largest drone factory, located at Malakasa, with the facility expected to come fully operational before the end of this year.
The factory will produce Class I and Class II drones, and will also house a dedicated research and development unit focused on building larger, more advanced systems. The Defense Ministry is targeting a jump in annual Class I drone output from 4,000 to at least 10,000 units per year.
The Defense Ministry is targeting a jump in annual Class I drone output from 4,000 to at least 10,000 units per year.
The announcement follows the conclusion of the national joint exercise "Doureios Ippos 2026," which wrapped up Thursday. The exercise, designed by the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, tested unmanned aerial vehicles, surface systems, underwater drones, and anti-drone technologies, with the military drawing conclusions about the current state of Greece's domestic unmanned systems sector.
It remains to be seen which systems tested during the exercise will be selected for operational deployment or further trials. Alongside the new factory, the Air Force and Navy are also set to open new schools specifically for drone operators, signaling a broader push to build out trained personnel alongside hardware production.
The Malakasa facility represents Greece's clearest signal yet that it intends to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and build a credible domestic defense-industrial base, particularly in the fast-growing unmanned systems space.
