Greece has a growing domestic drone industry, but the Hellenic Armed Forces are not buying from it. That is the central ...

Greece has a growing domestic drone industry, but the Hellenic Armed Forces are not buying from it. That is the central finding of a detailed investigation by Greek aviation outlet PTISI, which describes the situation as a paradox that is actively undermining the country's own defense manufacturers. Companies like Altus LSA, SAS Technology, EFA Group, Intracom Defense, Delian, Trygons, Miltech, and the state-owned Hellenic Aerospace Industry have all developed UAVs ranging from quadcopters and fixed-wing designs to loitering munitions and autonomous surface vessels. Prototypes have been tested, personnel exist, and the technology is maturing. The customers are not. While Greek-made systems sit on the shelf, the Ministry of National Defense has approved purchases of American V-BAT drones, additional Israeli Heron systems, Austrian S-100 Camcopter helicopters for the FDI frigates, Spanish A900 drones, American Switchblade loitering munitions, and Israeli Orbiter systems. France's Patroller was also acquired before being cancelled. Not one of those contracts included a Greek manufacturer. The ministry has a standing requirement that at least 25 percent of every defense procurement must involve Greek industry participation. According to PTISI, the Greek content on the continuous stream of foreign drone purchases is effectively zero. Meanwhile, selecting Greek-made solutions could deliver domestic industrial value of up to 80 percent per contract. The problem goes beyond lost revenue. In defense markets worldwide, a domestic order is the essential first credential for any arms manufacturer seeking export contracts. By refusing to buy its own products, Greece is blocking its drone companies from building the track record they need to sell abroad. No home order means no export credibility. The regulatory framework compounds the issue. Greek private companies cannot easily conduct live-munitions testing on home soil, forcing them to either work through cumbersome state processes or ship test operations overseas. At the same time, the Defense Ministry has announced plans to build drone production lines inside the Armed Forces themselves, meaning the military inte...