technology<\/b>. As Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias<\/b> emphasized, the country can no longer rely exclusively on traditional defense procurement approaches<\/b>, but must invest in \u201csmart\u201d solutions<\/b> that will come from the domestic defense ecosystem<\/b>, with the aim of strengthening its operational autonomy and economic resilience<\/b>.<\/p>\nEverything on this planet is changing<\/b>. And since everything is changing, in order for our country to remain strong and secure<\/b>, everything in the defense sector must also change. Everything in the defense sector must change so that the country can achieve resilience<\/b>.<\/p>\nThe two major challenges<\/h3>\n
This was emphasized, among other things, by Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, who represented Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today, Tuesday, June 23, at the inauguration ceremony for METLEN\u2019s fourth M Technologies industrial facility at the Volos defense hub.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe country faces two major challenges. The first challenge is readily understood; it is the security challenge facing the country. The country faces a real threat. We are the only country on the planet\u2014the only country on Earth\u2014that has a declared threat of war from a neighbor, the \u2018casus belli.\u2019 And for what reason, exactly? In the event that our country exercises a legitimate right\u2014which, in our own judgment, is not a legitimate right, but is included in the European \u201cacquis,\u201d the body of European law. That is, the entire body of law of our European family. And the second point, which is equally important, is one of the three reasons that led the country to bankruptcy in 2010; and that is the current account deficit,\u201d the minister explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are called upon to use the funds\u2014derived from Greek taxpayers\u2019 contributions\u2014that we spend on the country\u2019s defense to address both of these security challenges,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cWe must address them in an innovative and different way so that we can achieve the desired result, but also to address the current account deficit, which is damaging the Greek economy, damaging our very existence, and undermining our credibility. Because a poor country cannot be a strong country, and Greece\u2019s destiny is not to be a poor country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about the ministry\u2019s actions, he clarified: \u201cWe are promoting and implementing a completely different approach. The first thing we are doing is learning and teaching our country\u2019s Armed Forces; the leadership trains Armed Forces officers\u2014not, as in the past, to simply request the purchase of products, but to articulate operational challenges and seek solutions from the ecosystem for these operational challenges.\u201d.<\/p>\n
He cited the example of the threat posed by swarms of drones, emphasizing that the creation of the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation (ELKAK) makes it possible to pose this question \u201cto be evaluated by the defense industry ecosystem, and for these companies, together with the Armed Forces\u2019 research centers, to provide solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Products and Technology <\/h3>\n
And he added: \u201cNot products, but answers! And the difference between a solution and a product is that a product is something tangible and relates to existing technology, while a solution may involve products and technologies still under investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom there on, this is evaluated by the Armed Forces, and an order is placed for a product that does not yet exist on the market,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
As he clarified, for this to happen, we must \u201csignificantly accelerate the cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA product that has value today may be obsolete in eight to ten months,\u201d he said, citing the example of the Ukrainian drone that was \u201cintercepted\u201d in the Ionian Sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Ukrainian drone is outdated technology; it was remote-controlled. Nowadays, drones are equipped with Artificial Intelligence,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are called upon to face a different reality. And we must also allow for the risk of failure. And we must subsidize that risk of failure. After all, we\u2019re talking about building prototypes. We must help businesses innovate. We must help entrepreneurs innovate. We must help entrepreneurs experiment, pursue new solutions, and find new answers. This is the first direction\u2014one that must be fully embraced by our country\u2019s political system and, consequently, by Greek society as a whole. \u201cAnd we must not criminalize a company\u2019s failed attempt by making it front-page news,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cThe second thing this government has done is to submit a long-term plan. This is known as the EMPAE, the Unified Long-Term Defense Equipment Program. For the first time in our history, implemented an older law\u2014drafted by Evangelos Venizelos\u2014which mandates that the Ministry of National Defense plan 10\u201312 years in advance, thereby creating clarity regarding the intentions of the government in power, so that businesses know the general direction\u2014where we\u2019re headed and where we should invest. So that they, too, can adapt accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Dendias then explained: \u201cWe need to foster a culture\u2014and not stigmatize this culture\u2014of close cooperation between the Greek defense ecosystem, the Ministry of National Defense, and Greek military leaders. There is no shame in talking with Greek companies. It does not make ministers suspect when they try to guide Greek companies toward the innovation that the rest of the world is pursuing. If there is no such interaction between them, this cannot be achieved. If there are huge barriers, if there is no communication, no coordination, what will happen? We will return once again to the previous situation of being merely a client of foreign companies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about the practical measures taken by the Ministry of National Defense, he referred to his directive to the General Directorate of Armaments, which mandates \u201cthat 25% of every system not produced by a Greek company must involve investment in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when we say 25%, just to be clear, for high-tech products we\u2019re not just asking for subcontracting work, as was the case in the past\u2014albeit at much lower percentages, of course. With new technologies, there are codes\u2014source codes and algorithms\u2014and if you don\u2019t have them, you can\u2019t develop the product. And so you become hostage to a supplier, who either develops it or doesn\u2019t, in order to force you to purchase the next version of the same product, paying the full amount up front. So it is important for Greece that, when investments are made in the country, they be accompanied\u2014wherever possible\u2014 feasible and useful, by the source code, so that the know-how is also transferred to our own system and adapted to our own capabilities,\u201d Mr. Dendias clarified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will happen because there is exceptional human capital; there are brilliant minds in Greece, and there are also skilled hands that help bring to fruition what those brilliant minds design,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Creating a productive base <\/h3>\n
Referring to a country\u2019s resilience, Mr. Dendias emphasized: \u201cThere must be production facilities in the country that are capable of establishing a productive base and fostering innovation\u2014that is, of constantly renewing their own products. They must be able to provide the Hellenic Armed Forces, throughout this effort, with continuously updated products so that they can rise to the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is happening here today is exactly what needs to be done: the creation of innovative, robust Greek manufacturing bases that can help our country stand strong in the future\u2014both in terms of national defense and the national economy. These two pillars are essential to our very existence and to the prosperity of future generations\u2014your children and ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Referring to METLEN Executive Chairman Evangelos Mytilineos, Mr. Dendias emphasized: \u201cYou are a major donor to the Ministry of National Defense. You have shaped its aesthetic form and, consequently, its symbolic character. The Ministry of National Defense will never forget this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos was also present on behalf of the government and delivered a greeting.<\/p>\n
Also in attendance were former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister Evangelos Venizelos; Magnesia MPs Christos Triantopoulos, Zetta Makri, Christos Boukoros, Member of Parliament Michalis Katrinis, representing PASOK \u2013 Movement for Change, the Regional Governor of Thessaly Dimitris Koureta, the Mayor of Volos, Achilleas Beos; the Metropolitan of Demetrias, Ignatius; the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis; Stellina Siarapi, Secretary General for Private Investments at the Ministry of Development; the Director General of the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments (GDAEE) of the Ministry of National Defense, Major General Ioannis Bouras, heads and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in Greece, METLEN Executive Chairman Evangelos Mytilineos, METLEN M Technologies Chief Executive Director Vasilis Tsiamis, executives and members of the board of directors, as well as company employees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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