Greece opened its first joint drone pilot training center in Tripoli yesterday, and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made ...

Greece opened its first joint drone pilot training center in Tripoli yesterday, and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made clear this is just one piece of a much larger military transformation. By 2030, he said, Greece aims to be the strongest force in the European Union for autonomous vehicles in the air, at sea, and on land. The new Unmanned Aircraft Training Center will train pilots on UAV systems across three categories, as well as anti-drone jamming systems developed by KETAK, Greece's Center for Research, Technological Development and Innovation. FPV simulators are also planned for integration into the curriculum. Dendias described the center as "an essential complement" to Greece's existing capacity to produce Category 1, 2, and 3 UAVs, saying the next step was producing the personnel who can actually operate them in the field. The opening ceremony was attended by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, along with the chiefs of the Air Force and Navy. The center forms part of a broader armed forces reform plan that began in January 2024. Greece already has three drone production facilities operational, including the 306 and 316 Base Factories and a newer facility in Malakasa, north of Athens. During his visit, Dendias toured classrooms where live demonstrations were held using Flight Simulators, CATIII and HERON drone systems, as well as drones on active force protection and unit surveillance missions. #Greece #Defense #Drones