Hellenic Aerospace Industry, the manufacturer of Greece's first surveillance drone, the Archytas, is expecting an imminent order from the country's ministry of defense.
The Archytas, designed for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, had its initial unveiling last year and is now set to undergo its first test flight by the end of this year or early 2024. HAI officials have noted the urgency expressed by defense authorities to expedite the development and are confident that the government will place an order following the flight test and cost estimate. The Archytas drone has a flight duration of up to four hours and a payload capacity of over 14kg. HAI intends to target the domestic market before expanding internationally, with South Macedonia and Croatia already expressing interest in the system.
However, HAI's combat drone, the Grypas, is still awaiting a confirmed customer. The company will not proceed with the production of a prototype until a customer, most likely the Greek Armed Forces, is secured. The Grypas project is scheduled to conclude in the next two years, resulting in a scaled version of the aircraft.
Greece's focus on developing its domestic drone industry is driven by its historic rivalry with neighboring Turkey, which has established itself as a leading drone manufacturer.
