The Prime Minister at the opening ceremony of the V-Bat unmanned airplane system
“I am with you today first and above all to say a big thank you to Mr. Thanassis Laskaridis for another important donation that he is making for strengthening the Armed forces us, “the prime minister said Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended in the morning at the Integration Ceremony of the V-Bat Unmanned Air System, the Supreme Military Administration of the Internal and Islands (ASDEN), a donation by the Athanasios K. Laskaridis Foundation.
“The system presented today has very important operational capabilities. Sometimes one sees these videos and feels that it is a picture of a science fiction scenario but this is the real picture of business theater today. A huge technological progress has been made specifically on the issues of air surveillance and targeting. A progress that obviously cannot leave the Greek Armed Forces indifferent, “he said. He emphasized that “these two systems that fall into their potential substantially upgrade our potential. They allow us to become familiar with the most advanced version of technology. It allows us to quickly test the systems in the field that we can then increase the number. ” He even stressed that this is the advantage of these donations that we can relatively quickly acquire such systems, try them in the field and then find out to what extent we want to invest above.
At this point he also made a separate reference to Mr Panos Laskaridis, who – as the prime minister said – has supported the armed forces and especially the Greek Navy.
“As the Minister said, the Armed Forces are in a process, I dare say, of the bolder transformation that has ever been launched by the constitution of the modern Greek state. To be ahead of developments we need to implement this bold “agenda 2030” which is not only about acquiring modern weapon systems but also a different mentality. A different perception of how the Armed Forces are attempting to actually change, what it means to be fully familiar with modern technology, how we can in practice upgrade our potential. And of course, as we have said many times with the minister, what can be the involvement of the Greek defense industry, the domestic added value in this very great effort, “said Mitsotakis.
He spoke of an excellent and innovative work done in ELKAK that enables cooperation with a system of start -ups in the field of defense, where some of the best Greek minds work.
He reiterated that “it is inconceivable for a country that spends tens of billions of euros in equipment not being able to develop its own domestic defense industry. And obviously, now that Europe is moving in the context of increased defense funding, as well as significant transnational partnerships, Greece can have such a footprint in the field of innovation, in the defense as a whole, gives us a very great comparative advantage. “
He wanted to close with reference to Mr Thanassis Laskaridis’ encouragement, noting: “The history of the Greek benefactors is identified with the support of the Greek state and the Armed Forces. The most tragic example, perhaps, our iconic battleship, “Averoff” was co -financed – let’s not forget this – by a private donation that allowed us to acquire it, literally at the last minute, when other forces claimed it.
I think the example that the Laskarides family gives should be a guide to how great Greek entrepreneurs, especially in the shipping industry, can actually support the armed forces with amounts that are not obedient.
Because precisely these donations have the potential for great flexibility, high speed, and this is obviously very worthwhile for the Armed Forces, which will always face gaps that will have to be covered in urgent.
So I wish, Mr. Laskaridis, this donation, and this donation, because it is not the only one – to stand in particular in the state -of -the -art electronic war building that we will soon have the opportunity to inaugurate – to be a guide for others to follow their example. Greece still needs the big donors today and I am sure they will stand up to the circumstances. “
Drones with increased capabilities
The new drones have significantly increased capabilities and are characterized by a high degree of operational flexibility, high autonomy and multiple options in the motion. They can try in adverse weather conditions and in interference environment, at low operating costs.
In addition, the V-Bat SME is particularly easy to use in its growth and recovery, upgrading the capabilities and ease of user movements in the field.
In his own intervention, National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, among other things, noted: “Our new research center, ELKAK, has already announced four innovative unmanned development programs and will announce two more by the end of the year, including a new one. Whatever you see, what you will see are subsystems of this holistic approach called “Achilles’ shield.
But it is a great pleasure in the armed forces to see that in the efforts of this huge reform -the prime minister has said that it is the greatest reform ever made in the Greek Armed Forces in the history of New Greece -the Armed Forces are not alone.
I conclude by saying that we are a small country but that does not mean that we must be a country that is not strong. There are historical examples of small but extremely powerful and extremely successful countries. I think with the reform that is being done, we are on a good track. “
For his part, Thanassis Laskaridis said: “The recent war, still in Ukraine, has many lessons in the way the old -fashioned conventional conflicts are carried out and I hope, I am sure that our Government, as well as our Government, and our Government sovereignty.
It is obvious that the world is changing in terms of managing these crises and high rallies, whether people or tanks or ships, which are visible from space, are no longer a way of managing war crisis. This little donation I hope is triggered and other colleagues are interested in helping. “