Ukraine and Greece launch joint production of naval drones, media say
Photo: Ukraine and Greece to jointly produce marine drones (Getty Images)
Ukraine and Greece will jointly produce unmanned surface vessels, which will subsequently be used by the armed forces of both countries, reports Kathimerini.
The agreement on the manufacture of drones is one of the most important results of the meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to sources, the agreement on the joint production of naval drones concerns both the Ukrainian and Greek armed forces. The production line will be opened at Greek shipyards. Some of the drones will be supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while the rest will replenish the Greek arsenal.
According to the report, cooperation with Kyiv has several advantages for Athens. First, it is a proven technology with proven results. It also accelerates the use of Greek innovative technologies in an area where there is already huge global competition.
In addition, Athens is narrowing the gap with Türkiye, which deployed its first unmanned aerial vehicle back in 2021 and is adding other types to its fleet.
As for financing the initiative, Athens and Kyiv will try to include this specific plan in the loans provided by the SAFE regulation.
Marine drones in Ukraine
Ukraine actively uses marine drones to strike Russian targets in the Black Sea.
In 2023-2024, Ukrainian kamikaze drones inflicted significant losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, damaging or destroying a large number of enemy ships.
At the end of December, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter for the first time in the world using missiles launched from a Magura V5 strike drone.
