The Aegean defense doctrine is changing. In the past there was the more traditional one, that our planes were mainly anti-aircraft, while now by creating a “dome” we strengthen the lines of defense.

This was emphasized in an interview on the TALK RADIO 98.9 radio station by the Deputy Minister of National Defense Ioannis Kefalogiannis.

Regarding the “dome” he explained that “it will cover the entire territory, from Evros to the entire eastern Aegean, in a flexible system which will be anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-aircraft”.

“In essence, it will cover three needs. Combined with the conventional means that we will have, namely the 4.5-5th generation fighters, the new Belharra frigates, which in themselves form an anti-aircraft defense system in the area where they are located. For the first time, the country’s interests will be fully guaranteed,” he pointed out.

Last week, the New Power Structure was presented to the Parliament “in a closed information session to the representatives of the parties” as part of the “Agenda 2030” reform, said Mr. Kefalogiannis.

“Among other things, we informed the parties about the formations of the Land Army, the Navy and the Air Force, while at the beginning of next year the New Force Structure will be “buttoned” to the ten-year armament program, which is being processed by the Staffs and is in the final stages his phase” he added.

“We have learned lessons from the modern wars taking place in our wider region, in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the aim is to adapt the Armed Forces to the new requirements,” he added.

On camp closures, he stated that “we have 837 camps, more than the United States has on its soil, which, combined with other factors such as demographics, results in many of them being extremely short-staffed, possibly up to 20%”.

“The goal is to create versatile camps and a gathering that will help us reach the manning levels we desire, at least in peak areas, such as Evros and the islands of the Eastern Aegean, so that we have the appropriate deterrent force,” he underlined.

“Over the course of a decade, savings of 2 billion euros are estimated, so that they can be allocated again to the ‘Defence’ sector,” he continued.

Regarding the housing program of the Ministry of National Defense, the upgrading of the Military Schools and the support measures for the executives, he said: “The most important weapon system is the human factor. We are proceeding with direct interventions with the aim of indirectly increasing the income of the women and men of the Armed Forces”.

“There is,” he said, “a very large program of construction of military housing throughout Greece, which reasonably started from Evros and the islands of the Eastern Aegean. The first phase will concern 1,000 houses, several of them are already being built, and all of them will be completed in two years. The second phase will concern the construction of houses in areas such as Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete”.

“Another parameter that proves the social contribution of the Armed Forces is that 15% of the houses will be allocated for social purposes, that is, to doctors or teachers assigned to critical areas,” he explained.

“The goal is within the next five years to have built around 4,000 homes that will fully cover the needs recorded by the Staffs” he added.

“At the same time,” he said, “we proceeded with the academic upgrading of the military schools. About six months ago, we instituted a bill that allows military schools to do master’s, doctoral, postdoctoral programs, with subjects linked to the new requirements. In addition, the salary of our students in officer schools quadrupled and doubled in non-commissioned officer schools.”

“In consultation with the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, which is materially responsible for salary issues, and taking into account a relevant study carried out by the Staff, we are trying to see how we could present a new salary schedule for our executives, responding to the modern needs”, he emphasized.

Regarding the initiatives of the Ministry of National Defense for autism, he pointed out that “in the bill that we presented with Mr. Minister, two weeks ago we talked, among other things, about some new health structures such as, for example, the creation of Supported Living Homes for adults with disabilities”.

“In essence, we are creating some structures for the period when parents will not be able to meet the needs of their children, so that we can ensure their future. We have an excellent Children’s Special Care Center, which I recently visited at the Piraeus Naval Hospital, where prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a very wide range of issues involving children with autism and beyond is carried out,” said Mr. Kefalogiannis.

Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, the Deputy Minister of National Defense underlined that “normality must be the goal in relations between all neighbors”.

“From there on, we have no illusions” he added, stressing that yes at the moment there may be “calm waters”, but on the other hand “Turkey, at least at the level of rhetoric, has not retreated to any of the maximalist or revisionist her positions”.

“The best answer to this is one. Strong Armed Forces, so as to send the message to anyone who is taunting our national interests, national sovereignty or sovereign rights that we are here, on the ground, if we need to give the answer” he clarified.