Defense Minister Nikos Dendias visited the 306 Base Telecommunications Factory (306 BTF) in Acharnes today, Wednesday, October 22, and witnessed firsthand the production process of drones. The minister, accompanied by Chief of Army General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, toured the development laboratories and operational training simulators of the Drone Production Factory. There he was briefed by ASDYS Commander Major General Antonio Theosiadis on the mission and work of the 306 BTF, as well as its collaboration with the Innovation Directorate, the Research, Technology Development and Innovation Center (KETAC) and the Hellenic Defense Innovation Center (ELKAC).
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After the briefing, Nikos Dendias stated: “I am particularly pleased to be here today, at one of the main pillars supporting our country’s Armed Forces. At the 306 BTF, a decisive step is being implemented – a real leap – towards the new era of the Armed Forces. Here operates a production facility for Category I unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and First Person View (FPV), as well as larger types. Additionally, two prototype portable drone production stations have been developed, which will be presented for the first time at the October 28th parade in Thessaloniki and are designed to support our major units in the field.
Nikos Dendias: “Production capacity of over 1,000 drones annually has already been achieved”
Production capacity of over 1,000 drones annually has already been achieved, thanks to collaboration with the Innovation Directorate, KETAC and ELKAC. This represents a new philosophy that is not limited to resource savings, but radically changes the logic of procuring technological equipment “off the shelf”. Here, not only drones are produced, but also the software that accompanies them, demonstrating in practice the transition of the Armed Forces to the new era – a tangible expression of “Agenda 2030″. I want to congratulate the Chief of Army General Staff and all the personnel working on this project. Greece is moving rapidly within the 21st century and we will continue this course, because we face threats. Deterrence is based on developing our own capabilities – Greek solutions, Greek minds, Greek hands, Greek Armed Forces”.
During the visit, the minister received from the Commander of the 306 BTF, Colonel (TC) Efstathios Botsis, a commemorative quadcopter drone manufactured by the factory, expressing his emotion: “I will ask the Prime Minister of the country to come see what we are building here. I think he too will feel very proud of what has been achieved in a very short time period, a matter of months by you and your colleagues, the Armed Forces personnel”.
The 306 BTF, which until recently had the mission of maintaining civilian-type drones, has now been upgraded to a complete development, production and maintenance line for military drones, software and flight simulators. It produces both quadcopters and fixed-wing drones, which can perform surveillance, reconnaissance, payload delivery or even “kamikaze” type missions.
Furthermore, the Army has two mobile units that perform similar operations near fields of operations. Finally, the 306 BTF has contributed to upgrading the M1117 armored vehicle, which will be presented at the October 28th parade, having integrated an electro-optical sensor and drone that collaborate in reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
