Eurosatory 2026: Greek defense industry achievements (video)
Greece's defense industry showcased significant achievements at Paris's Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, the largest in the event's history with over 2,600 exhibitors from 68 countries.
According to Dimokratia, this year’s defense systems exhibition was the largest in scale in the institution’s history.
With more than 2,600 exhibitors (500 and more than in 2024) and 68 countries publicly presenting the products and capabilities of their defense industries, the exhibition highlighted the reorientation caused by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the strategic reorientation of the U.S. toward the Asia-Pacific, and the formation of a new point of global geopolitical balance.
Greek participation and pavilions
Greek participation included 19 pavilions from an equal number of domestic industry companies, of which 15 were hosted in the national pavilion organized by the Hellenic Association of Manufacturers of Defense Material (SEKPY), under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense and with the support of Enterprise Greece.
The pavilion’s inauguration was attended by Miltiadis Nikolaidis, Ambassador of Greece to France, Lieutenant General Ioannis Bouras, General Director of the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments of the Ministry of National Defense (YPETHA/GDAEE), Lieutenant General Ioannis Korres, Director of the 4th Branch of GEETHA, head of a small delegation from the joint staff, Lieutenant General Ioannis Konstantinou, Director of the 2nd Branch of the Supreme Military Support Command (ASDYS), head of a small delegation from GES, the representative of Enterprise Greece, and Dr. Panagiotis Chatzipaoulis, Director of Equipment and Development of Defense Capabilities of the Ministry of Defense of Cyprus.
The only negative observation is the absence of representation from the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defense.
In contrast, the presence at the inauguration of Cyprus’s national pavilion of Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas symbolized the great emphasis placed on the strategic enhancement of the outward orientation and international presence of the Cypriot defense industry.
The Crete Firing Range (PVK) also had a pavilion at the exhibition, leveraging its presence at international exhibitions to promote its capabilities in providing training in anti-aircraft and anti-missile firing.
Agreement to complete HECCS systems
Significant developments concerning the domestic defense industry were recorded at the exhibition. Agreement has been reached to complete the hybrid energy and climate control systems (HECCS: Hybrid Energy & Climate Control System), developed and produced by INTRACOM DEFENSE (IDE),
- for the launchers (each with eight launch positions),
- the Battle Management Centers (BMC)
- and the EL/M-2084 MMR radars of the batteries manufactured by the Israeli state company IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries),
- of the BARAK MX anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system that our country will procure as part of the “dome” program.
The HECCS is a member of the family of Hybrid Electrical Power Systems (HEPS) that IDE has been developing over the past two decades.
It is an advanced electrical power and climate control system, providing a reliable and efficient solution to the problem of increased energy needs of various types of platforms (battle tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers, anti-aircraft defense systems, communications, etc.), remote installations, and positions on the battlefield.
At present, it is not known whether the use of HECCS will extend to the other systems our country will procure as part of the “dome,” namely SPYDER AiO and David’s Sling. However, the benefits of standardization regarding life cycle costs, support, maintenance, and personnel training argue in favor of this direction.
Memorandum of cooperation with Ukraine
During the exhibition, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between SEKPY and the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry (UCDI) “Zbroyary.” The memorandum includes cooperation between the defense industries of Greece and Ukraine, joint development and production of products, innovative technologies, participation in joint or multinational programs, and exchange of know-how.
The memorandum was signed by Anastasios Rozolis, chairman of the board of directors of SEKPY, and Ihor Fedirko, CEO of UCDI, in the presence of the general director of GDAEE, Lieutenant General Ioannis Bouras. It constitutes the first institutional cooperation action between collective bodies of the defense industries of the two countries and is expected to accelerate the development of collaborations between companies from both countries.
Each member of the UCDI, which was created in February 2025, represents dozens or even hundreds of private enterprises in various sectors of the defense sector.
The UCDI functions as a bridge between industry, the armed forces, and various government agencies of Ukraine, as well as international partners, to accelerate and ensure transparency in procurement.
Through its associated investors’ club, it provides its members with the ability to raise capital from Ukrainian and international institutional investors to strengthen research and development of new products as well as production capabilities.
Video
Source: Dimokratia
