Hellenic News Update 05-02-2025

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Cypriot Company Proposes to Provide Strategic Support for Greek Philoctetes Infantry Fighting Vehicle - January 31, 2025
On January 22, 2025, representatives from Nemos Strategy LTD presented to senior officers of the Hellenic Army General Staff (ΓΕΣ) support solutions for the Philoctetes armored vehicles. This presentation marked a key moment in the consolidation of the partnership between the Hellenic Army and this company, which specializes in military strategy and logistical support. The meeting aimed to discuss maintenance and logistical support services designed to ensure the operational efficiency and long-term availability of the Philoctetes vehicles. Read more

Greece Receives 30th Upgraded F-16 Viper From Lockheed Martin - January 27, 2025
American firm Lockheed Martin has delivered the 30th upgraded F-16 Viper to the Hellenic Air Force. “This upgrade strengthens Greece’s defense and its ability to operate seamlessly with allied forces,” stated the company on X. The aircraft is part of a broader modernization effort to enhance Greece’s combat aviation capabilities. Athens began upgrading its US-manufactured F-16s to the Viper configuration as part of a $1.5-billion program signed in 2018. The country expects to complete the delivery of 85 upgraded planes by 2027. The F-16 Viper is a modernized version of the F-16 fighter jet, designed to improve combat capabilities and pilot awareness. Read more

Hellenic Aerospace Industry preparing anti-drone systems - January 27, 2025
Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and the soon-to-be-launched Greek Center for Innovation Development (ELKAK) are expected to sign, in the coming weeks, a contract integrating a Greek-made Centaur anti-drone system into the Defense Ministry’s innovation drive, officially launching a new research and development program planned by the ministry. HAI aims to enhance the Centaur’s capabilities, complete both its naval and land versions, and equip the Greek armed forces. Additionally, if there is international interest, the company will seek to export the system to other countries. According to Kathimerini sources, HAI, possessing significant expertise in C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems) development, is already working on countermeasures that could address swarms of unmanned threats. Read more

US air force looks to upgrade Cyprus airbase as humanitarian staging post for the Middle East - January 24, 2025
Experts from the US Air Force are looking at ways to upgrade Cyprus’ premier air base for use as a humanitarian staging post in future operations in the Middle East, a Cypriot official told The Associated Press Thursday. Cyprus, which is only 184 kilometers (114 miles) from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has acted as a transit point for the repatriation of foreign nationals fleeing conflict in the Middle East and beyond on numerous occasions in the past. It has also served as a transit point for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Experts from the 435th Contingency Response Group based out of Ramstein, Germany, will spend the next few days at Andreas Papandreou Air Force Base to assess the upgrade needed to accommodate a wide array of US air assets and other forces. Read more

Hellenic Navy Acquires Upgraded Island-class Patrol Vessels - January 22, 2025
On January 20, 2025, in the presence of Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the Hellenic Navy (HN) officially received and commissioned four upgraded Island-class coastal patrol vessels at Salamis Shipyards. Over the course of approximately one year, these vessels underwent extensive modernization, upgrades, and modifications by the Salamis Shipyards and Virginia Electronic Systems, under the supervision of the United States Coast Guard and HN personnel. Each vessel was named in honor of distinguished HN heroes: HS Mantouvalos Ioannis (P197), HS Galanis Georgios (P198), HS Liaskos Antonios (P288), and HS Gialopsos Ektoras (P289). Read more

An assertive role for the Greek Navy - January 20, 2025
The Hellenic Navy’s mission is about to undergo a fundamental change and the government plans to acquire the weapons to back up its new defense approach. The navy’s mission until now has been one of deterrence. But, given Turkey’s push of the expansionist “Blue Homeland” doctrine, Defense Ministry officials believe that a defensive posture is not enough and that a more aggressive deployment is needed to keep Turkey, a nominal NATO ally, from confining Greek naval forces within the Aegean Sea. The defensive posture also risked playing into Turkey’s aim at confining the Greek fleet in the western part of the Aegean, away from the Eastern Aegean islands and the Evros land border that could be an important battlefield in the event of the tensions between the two countries escalating into full-blown war. Read more

Skaramangas Shipyards to develop maritime innovation center - January 16, 2025
Shipyards is moving forward with the development of a maritime innovation center in Greece. The agreement was signed by the management and the British advanced maritime technology company Sub Sea in the presence of the Ambassador of Great Britain to Greece, Matthew Lodge, at the shipyards. The company’s CEO Camilla Martin and the Vice President and Managing Director of Skaramangas Shipyards Miltiadis Varvitsiotis signed a relevant memorandum providing that the Shipyards will become the manufacturer of the Victa vessel for the Greek and European markets. The VICTA vessel is an innovative platform designed for Special Forces operations in coastal areas. Read more

Cyprus included in three critical US defense programs - January 15, 2025
In a landmark decision that underscores the growing strategic depth of US-Cyprus relations, President Joe Biden issued a presidential determination, officially including the Republic of Cyprus in three critical US defense programs. This significant development opens up the way for expanded access to US defense articles – previously unavailable – lays the foundation for enhanced security cooperation with the incoming administration of Donald Trump, reflects the long-term shared objective of bolstering interoperability between the two nations, and contributes to the modernization and enhancement of Cyprus’ defense capabilities. Read more

Greece advances Andravida base upgrade for F-35 arrival - January 15, 2025
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is progressing with plans to transform Andravida Air Base in the northwest Peloponnese into the country’s most advanced military facility, designed to host its incoming fleet of F-35 fighter jets. Key discussions were held on Tuesday between Greek military officials and representatives from US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, who are currently in Athens to review the next steps in the base’s modernization. A few weeks ago, a team of American officials visited Andravida to inspect the base’s infrastructure. Meanwhile, a task force established by HAF is managing the ongoing upgrades to the 117th Combat Wing, which is stationed at Andravida. As part of its preparations, the HAF team has visited international F-35 bases to gather expertise for implementation at Andravida. Read more

Greece to Develop Advanced Diver Delivery Unit for Special Forces - January 15, 2025
Greece signed an agreement with British advanced maritime technology company SubSea Craft (SSC) to develop at the Skaramagas Shipyards, south of Athens, one of the world’s most advanced diver delivery units (DDUs). DDUs are specialized submersible vehicles used by military forces to transport divers, equipment, and supplies underwater, typically for covert operations. They are essential tools for naval special forces and maritime units, facilitating stealthy movement in challenging underwater environments. VICTA, the SSC’s flagship vehicle, is a small, streamlined vehicle designed for stealth, speed, and efficiency underwater. Read more

Reforming Greece’s military - January 14, 2025
Most Greek experts on military and security affairs, including many in uniform, have for years pointed out the need for a radical overhaul of the way the Hellenic Armed Forces are organized. It is indeed inconceivable for a country to have invested heavily, spending many billions of euros, in defense procurement, purchasing the most advanced weapons systems with an eye to the future, while the human element and the command structure of the force somehow remained stuck in the past. Read more

Dendias: We are shaping a new long-term strategy for our national security - January 11, 2025
“We are obligated to shape a new long-term strategy for our national security, and that is precisely what we are doing with Agenda 2030 - the largest reform of the armed forces in Greek history, as the Prime Minister aptly put it.” This was among the key points emphasized by Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias during an event organized in Patras by the Electoral District Committee of Achaia, affiliated with New Democracy. As he further stated, “What matters most is not our new ships, nor our new airplanes, nor the new weapons we have and will acquire. What matters is our unwavering commitment—shared by society and the personnel of the armed forces—to our national narrative, to the sense of a shared journey that originates from the past, exists today, and heads toward the future.” Read more

Greek frigate Hydra quietly deploys to Red Sea with upgraded anti-drone system amid Meko modernization debate - January 10, 2025
According to information published by Christian Mazanitis on January 10, 2025, the Greek frigate HYDRA has quietly set sail for the Red Sea, embarking on its fourth mission in the region to join Operation ASPIDES. This European Union-led mission aims to protect maritime trade routes from terrorist threats, particularly those posed by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Unlike its previous deployments, the HYDRA’s departure from the Salamis Naval Base was marked by an unusual lack of ceremony, with no formal send-off by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Katarras, or any public announcement from the Navy’s press office. Read more

Final Rafale fighter jet delivered to Greek Air Force - January 9, 2025
The Air Force has received a new Rafale fighter jet, completing its acquisition of 24 of the French-made aircraft. The single-seat jet, which bears the serial number 457, landed at the 114th Combat Wing in Tanagra air base shortly after 1 p.m., after a non-stop flight from Mérignac in Bordeaux, and was handed over to the 332nd Squadron. This particular Rafale belongs to the second – supplementary – contract, which increased the Air Force’s stock of the jets from 18 to 24. The newly built Rafales were ordered from France in March 2022, along with three FDI frigates. Within just four years, Greece has acquired a fully equipped Rafale fighter squadron, which significantly changes the balance of power in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. Read more

Turkey’s naval build-up has Hellenic Navy considering the purchase of more ships - January 7, 2025
The announcement of the shipbuilding program by the Turkish Armed Forces and the geopolitical challenges in the wider region have prompted the Hellenic Navy to explore acquiring more ships. As outlined in the plan presented to parliament in November by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the Hellenic Navy aims for a fleet of 16 main vessels by 2035. Given that the S-class frigates, some of which have served in Greek waters for 50 years, are nearing the end of their operational life, Greece is already working to acquire a fourth FDI Belharra frigate and plans to modernize its four MEKO frigates. Read more

Greek army planning rocket artillery upgrade - January 2, 2025
Strengthening rocket artillery is expected to be a top priority for Greece’s armed forces in 2025. The civilian and military leadership plan to submit the reinforcement program for approval to the relevant parliamentary committee by the end of the first quarter. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias is expected to present a comprehensive armament plan covering the next twelve years by February. Enhancement of the operational and strategic capabilities of the land army, with a particular focus on the artillery, will represent a key part of this plan. Lessons from Ukraine demonstrate that artillery remains crucial to determining the outcome of war, even on the modern battlefield. Read more

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