A Turkish Aksungur drone has been making frequent visits to the Athens flight information region in the southeast Aegean, staying for extended periods without a flight plan. This unmanned aircraft, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, has raised concerns within Greece’s military leadership due to its significant capabilities.
In response, the Hellenic Army General Staff is set to acquire French-built Patroller drones by late 2024, enhancing the surveillance capabilities of the Greek Armed Forces. These drones will provide high-definition imagery, thermal imaging, and firing data, improving the country’s defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, Greece has shown interest in obtaining an integrated unmanned combat aerial vehicle system for ground forces, potentially through agreements with Israel for the armed version of the UAV Heron. Discussions are ongoing, but no significant progress has been made yet.