Greece unveils new drone and AI weapons at Oxi Day military parade

Greece showcased its military technology last week during the Oxi Day military parade in Thessaloniki, commemorating the historic rejection of an Italian ultimatum on October 28, 1940.

This year’s event marked the 85th anniversary of the national holiday. It drew thousands of spectators, including President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Ministers of Defense of both Greece and Cyprus, and the leadership of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

While the parade honored Greece’s wartime resilience, marking the nation’s defiance against Italian fascism in WWII, it also served as a showcase for the country’s rapidly evolving defense capabilities, with a strong emphasis on technological innovation and international collaboration.

The parade featured the debut of the Ministry of National Defense’s Department of Innovation and New Weapons Systems, presenting technologies, including those part of Greece’s strategic plan called “Agenda 2030” that pivots the military more toward autonomous warfare and electronic defense.

Among the unveilings at the parade were domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), AI-enhanced weapons, and sophisticated anti-drone platforms.

The Greek-made “Kentavros” system, which has already been successfully deployed aboard Hellenic Navy frigates during Operation Shields in the Red Sea against Houthi drones, was prominently featured. Kentavros is designed to detect and neutralize hostile drones and has proven effective in intercepting aerial threats during recent naval operations.

Another system shown was the “Hyperion” electronic warfare system, capable of disabling enemy drones through electromagnetic disruption. Intended for surface naval units, Hyperion represents a leap in Greece’s ability to counter increasingly agile and low-cost drone attacks.

Four new acquired and deployed M1117 armored security vehicles from the United States were shown off as well as a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV produced by Austria’s Schiebel and set to be deployed aboard the Belharra frigates ordered by the Hellenic Navy.

Israeli defense technologies also played a visible role in the parade, underscoring the deepening military ties between Greece and Israel as well as a shared interest in countering regional threats and enhancing interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.

Greece and Israel have a strong and growing security partnership centered on defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint military exercises. Their relationship has deepened significantly since 2010, when Israel’s ties with Turkey deteriorated, pushing both Athens and Jerusalem closer together.

And with Athens' recent announcement that it plans to spend $27 billion on security in the next decade, Israeli firms see a strong opportunity for continued defense deals. The country’s Achilles Shield national air defense system is expected to cost at least €2.8 billion ($3 billion). It is designed as a multi-layered, integrated air defense system capable of countering a range of aerial threats, including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, as well as maritime threats such as naval platforms or submarines.

“Greece already has the American Patriot systems. If we were to buy new ones, the waiting time would be four to five years. European capabilities are limited. Israel, with which we maintain a strategic alliance, can offer solutions more quickly,” Mitsotakis was quoted by local news website ekathimerini as saying in April.