ATHENS – 10 December 2025 – Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias declared on Tuesday that operating drones – including FPV (first-person view) and counter-drone systems – will become the primary focus of training for new army recruits, while traditional infantry weapons will be used mainly for self-defense.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Dendias described a revolutionary transformation of the Greek Armed Forces: “The answer to what is changing is one word: everything. And everything must change if we are to survive in the new security environment.”
He outlined a radical shift in the role of the modern soldier: “We are moving away from the image of soldiers standing shoulder-to-shoulder firing rifles – something we should forget from the movies. The new soldier will sit in front of screens, controlling one or several drones. These are the combat tools of today. The personal weapon will primarily serve for self-protection.”
Dendias confirmed that comprehensive drone and anti-drone training will be integrated as a core component of the revised basic training curriculum for all new conscripts.
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