Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended a ceremony on Wednesday, May 14, marking the integration of the V-BAT unmanned aircraft system into the Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (ASDEN), following a donation by the ‘Athanasios K. Laskaridis’ charitable foundation.
“The system presented today has very important operational capabilities,” Mitsotakis said, noting the rapid evolution of military technology. “Sometimes you look at these videos and it feels like a picture from a science fiction scenario, but this is the real picture of the theatre of operations today.”
He highlighted the significance of the donation, explaining that such systems allow Greece to “quickly field test” cutting-edge technology before deciding on broader investment.
“It substantially upgrades our capabilities, allowing us to get acquainted with the most advanced version of technology,” he said.
Είχα τη χαρά να παραστώ στην τελετή ένταξης των προηγμένης τεχνολογίας μη επανδρωμένων αεροσκαφών V-BAT στην ΑΣΔΕΝ, δωρεά του κοινωφελούς ιδρύματος «Αθανάσιος Κ. Λασκαρίδης». Ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ για μία ακόμα σημαντική δωρεά για την ενίσχυση των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων. pic.twitter.com/jvZvqFfurZ
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) May 14, 2025
Mitsotakis emphasised that the Greek Armed Forces are undergoing “the most daring transformation” in modern Greek history as part of the broader “Agenda 2030” reform plan, which aims to modernise not just equipment but also operational mindset.
He also praised Panos Laskaridis for his longstanding support of the Armed Forces, particularly the Hellenic Navy, and commended the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI) for its role in developing partnerships with defence-focused start-ups and advancing domestic technological innovation.
The V-BAT drones offer advanced surveillance capabilities, high operational flexibility, and autonomy, with the ability to operate in adverse weather and interference-heavy environments—all at low operational cost.
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias noted that HCDI has already initiated four UAV development programmes and plans to launch two more by year’s end.
“We are a small country, but that does not mean that we should be a country that is not strong,” he said. “With the reform that is taking place, we are on a good path.”
