Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to launch joint production of naval drones at Greek shipbuilding enterprises.
According to Kathimerini, Ukrainian and Greek defense companies will participate in the project, and part of the technologies will be developed in Greece.
The production will meet the needs of both countries: some of the marine drones will go to the Ukrainian army, while the rest will replenish the Greek Armed Forces’ arsenal. This will allow Greece to reduce its technological gap with Turkey.
In addition to shipbuilding (likely at the Skaramangas shipyard), Greek companies will manufacture electronics, optics, sensors, and, if necessary, ammunition.
The joint drone is expected to be an improved version of the Ukrainian models that have already proven effective on the battlefield.
If the production launch is successful, Athens and Kyiv plan to expand their cooperation to include underwater drones as well. Ukraine’s defense industry is currently a leader in unmanned technologies, which are constantly being adapted to changes on the front line.
Funding for the project has already been included in Greece’s long-term defense procurement program for 2025–2036. In addition, the parties plan to attract funds through the EU’s SAFE program, which supports joint arms production with partner countries.
