Souda Bay — one of the most strategically important locations for Greece’s national defense — is now home to a key testing ground for cutting-edge domestic military technology. A new video by journalist Vasilis Saribalidis captures the moment Greek-made drones, developed and patented by local agencies, successfully take flight over the Souda military base.
Saribalidis traveled to Crete and gained rare access to the restricted area of Souda — a NATO-controlled zone — to document training exercises using drones that are fully designed and manufactured in Greece.
At the heart of this innovation is the Center for Research, Technological Development, and Innovation (CETAK), a state-backed institution playing a dynamic role in advancing Greece’s defense capabilities. The center is now producing weapons systems that remain largely unknown to the public — and ones that few would believe are actually made in Greece.
During his visit, Saribalidis met with Lieutenant Colonel Nikolaos Almalis, commander of CETAK, to discuss the country’s drone program and broader issues concerning national security and technological sovereignty.
By the end of the day, the drones soaring over Souda Bay represented much more than impressive visuals — they symbolize the beginning of a bold shift in Greece’s defense landscape. If development continues as planned, these projects could propel Greece into a new era of technological advancement and self-reliance in military production.
