Greece orders UAVs and armoured vehicles to boost security

Greek parliament’s special standing committee on armament programs and contracts approved the procurement of three MQ-9 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and the U.S. AAV-7 armoured amphibious vehicles that will cost 691 million euros ($703 million).

The flight range of the U.S.-made MQ-9 UAVs is 1,850 kilometers (1,149 miles), they can stay in the air for 27 hours and fly up to 15 kilometers (9 miles) high and they will constantly monitor the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, according to Greek officials.

AAV-7 armoured vehicles will be shipped to Greece after their maintenance is completed in the U.S.

These vehicles, which are stated to have a range of up to 37 kilometers (23 miles) can carry up to 25 marines and land on the shore before the ship approaches the shore.

Even though Greece recently received six Rafale fighter jets from France, the acquisition of those aeroplanes did not ease its concerns over Turkish UAVs and armed drones, according to the Greek media outlets.

As part of those efforts, during a visit he paid to Israel on Jan. 20, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos explored options to acquire anti-drone technologies from this country, the Greek daily To Vima said last year.

Furthermore, the Greek Foreign Ministry mulls exerting diplomatic pressure on Germany for the country to stop selling some parts which are used in the production of Turkish drones, the newspaper said.