By Letta Kalamara

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias stressed the need for a far-reaching overhaul of Greece’s defence model, linking national security to innovation, industrial production and economic self-sufficiency.

He made the remarks when speaking at the inauguration of METLEN’s fourth M Technologies industrial facility at the company’s defence hub in Volos.

Recalling long-standing structural weaknesses, Dendias outlined a new defence framework based on cooperation between the state, research institutions and domestic industry.

Dendias said Greece must address security concerns and economic resilience simultaneously.

“We are therefore called upon to use the money that Greek taxpayers contribute, often at significant sacrifice, for the country’s defence in a way that addresses these challenges,” he said.

According to Dendias, the solution lies in a different and more innovative approach to defence and industrial production.

A key element of the reform is a change in the philosophy of the armed forces, he said, explaining that they should define operational problems and seek solutions from the broader defence ecosystem.

Dendias also highlighted the rapid pace of technological change and the increasingly short life cycle of modern defence systems.

“A product that has value today may be obsolete in eight to ten months,” he said, citing the evolution of drones from simple remotely operated systems to artificial intelligence-enabled platforms.

The minister also stressed the need for the state to allow experimentation and even tolerate failure.

“We must allow for the risk of failure. And we must subsidise that risk of failure,” he said.

He referred to Greece’s long-term defence procurement planning framework, known as the Multi-Year Defence Procurement Programme, stressing that predictability is essential for both industry and investors.

Concluding his remarks, Dendias reiterated the importance of mandatory domestic industrial participation in defence procurements at a level of around 25%.

“For every system that is not produced by a Greek company, 25% should correspond to investment in the country,” he said.

He also underlined the importance of access to source codes and technological know-how, arguing that Greece must avoid remaining technologically dependent on foreign suppliers.

METLEN inaugurated a new industrial facility operated by M Technologies in Volos on Tuesday, in the presence of Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, as part of the group’s expanding defence industrial hub.

Speaking at the event, METLEN Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Evangelos Mytilineos said a strong domestic defence industry is a prerequisite for safeguarding national sovereignty, adding that the investment goes beyond the creation of another manufacturing unit and forms part of a broader industrial ecosystem linking defence, energy and metallurgy.

According to Mytilineos, the M Technologies defence hub is evolving into a fully integrated industrial complex that will exceed 100,000 square metres and will be capable of supporting multiple European defence programmes.

He also stressed the need for closer cooperation between the armed forces and the Greek defence industry, arguing that domestic production can meet critical operational requirements while maintaining high quality standards.

He also praised the government’s decision, backed by Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, to require a 25% domestic industrial participation rate in all defence procurement programmes, saying the measure was “a step in the right direction.”

According to Mytilineos, Metlen has established six industrial defence production units within a short period of time. “The industries that survived the decade-long crisis thanks to their export-oriented focus can achieve remarkable things on land, at sea and in the air,” he said.