In recent years, drones have significantly changed the way modern Armed Forces around the world operate. Greece could not be left out of this technological evolution. From border surveillance to target reconnaissance and operations support, UAVs (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) are gaining an increasingly important role in the daily operations of the Greek Armed Forces.
From traditional media to new technology
For many years, surveillance and intelligence gathering was mainly carried out by manned aircraft, helicopters or ground patrols. Today, however, a Drone can perform many of these missions more quickly, at a lower cost and without exposing human personnel to danger.
Modern Drone have:
- high-resolution cameras,
- thermal cameras,
- night flight possibility,
- real-time image transmission,
- auto-autonomous navigation systems.
This allows the Armed Forces to have a direct view of an area, even in difficult or remote areas.
Border and maritime surveillance
Greece’s difficult geographical location creates increased surveillance needs both on land and at the maritime borders. The drones can fly for many hours and cover long distances, providing a continuous image to the relevant units, using fuel, electricity or a hydroelectric system. .
In several cases they are used:
- for border surveillance,
- for the control of maritime areas,
- to detect suspicious movements,
- to support search and rescue missions.
- for transporting small volumes of objects.
Their use helps significantly in making quick decisions and improving the business picture as everything is done in real time.
The Drone in the modern business field
The recent warfare conflicts taking place globally have clearly shown that Drones are now playing a leading role in the modern battlefield & are being used to:
- Recognition,
- information gathering,
- force guidance,
- target surveillance,
- electronic warfare.
- carrying out kamikaze-type missions with a directed impact on the target.
This has led many countries, including Greece, to invest more in education and the development of such units. In our country there are already two Drone production factories, one in Athens at the 306 Telecommunications Base Factory (306 EBT), where a production line for drones and FPV systems has been created & one in Xanthi at the 316 Area Workshop, where a second Drone production structure is being developed for the needs of the Armed Forces.
The importance of proper education
Technology alone is not enough. A Drone is only as effective as its operator. For this reason, training becomes of paramount importance. The training of drone operators in the Greek Armed Forces takes place in various military units and training centres, depending on the type of drone and the operational role.
From this year onwards, the important part of the training takes place:
- at the Army Air Force School,
- in special training centres for SSEAs,
- as well as to operational units of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
As in the private schools that exist in all the territory, they are taught about :
- aviation legislation,
- flight safety,
- business processes,
- risk management,
- use of sensors and cameras,
- dealing with emergency situations.
- use of a thermal camera.
The future has already begun
In the coming years the presence of Drone in the Greek Armed Forces is expected to increase even more. New systems, greater autonomy, artificial intelligence ( AI ) and the cooperation of several drones together ( swarm ) will change the way operations are conducted even more.
The new era is not in the future. It is already here, and drones are now one of the most important tools of modern defence technology.
