‘The reforms we move on to Armed force It is not a potential choice in the country. It is a term of national survival after the huge changes that have taken place in the last decade at both geopolitical and technological levels. The challenges of the modern era are not treated with hundreds of plants that plant, but with mergers and an increase in fullness. The same is true for other changes. I don’t hurt the political costs and I am willing to take over. “ These, he stressed, in an interview with the newspaper “Parapolitika” Ms. National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.

‘We owe’, explained, “to We respond to New conditions through a holistic – and not fragmentary – approachwith a series of reforms starting with the uniform and equipment of the modern fighter and reach the development of innovative media and the 20 -year -old essentially equipment program (12+8 years). “

And he made it clear that “Changes will move on to all levels” and added that a significant portion of reforms “concerns the care for the Armed Forces staff, our main power multiplier” such as forerunnerthe increases in the earnings After 15 years, large improvements in Health care.

For him war in Ukraine, Mr. Dendias reported that “He has shown that military superiority in the 21st century is not judged by the number of weapons systems, but by their combinations, response speed and field awareness.”

“Unmanned systems – aerial and terrestrial – offer accuracy, flexibility and often business advantage. They do not negate the value of state -of -the -art fighter aircraft. They reinforce it. It is indicative that within the framework of the operation of the Hellenic Defense Innovation Center (ELKAK), 4 of the 10 Research and Development Programs concern the development of unmanned systems » Complete.

For our Air Force, he pointed out that “It is upgraded through the inclusion of the Rafale aircraft, the continuation of the upgrading of the F-16 Block 50 into Viper and especially Greece’s integration into the F-35 program.”

In particular, as he said‘Our participation in A program of the F-35s is a technological and operational leap to the future. This is not just aircraft. These are combat platforms, fully integrated into network -centric management, control and communication systems. “

‘This option’, continued, ‘Is integrated In the new national doctrine of deterrencewhich has as the core of ‘Achilles’ shield» – a multilevel dome of anti -aircraft, anti -ballistic, anti -drone, anti -submarine protection. It is a consolidated architecture that allows for the full use of the operational capabilities of each system, on land, sea and air. New aircraft and warships are released from spatial defense, now taking on a strategic role. All of the above works in combination. This is an investment in synergy. “

For the residential program of the Armed Forces, reiterated that “The dedication of the state to the mission of the Armed Forces must be transformed into care for the executive wearing the uniform.”

“The Armed Forces’s residential program,” he said, “began in August 2023, with the recording of existing houses, the imprinting of needs and the preparation of the necessary studies. At the same time, the construction of 357 houses across the country was completed. In May 2024, the funding of a total of 100 million euros was secured by the Public Investment Program, the first two construction phases of the residential program, to build 702 houses in 54 buildings in Thrace and the islands of the central and eastern Aegean. “

“The total of the first and second phase projects are in progress and the houses – with which the total number will rise to 1,059 – are expected to be completed and delivered for use in 2026. I recall that part of the new apartments (10 – 15%) will be used for critical, Cohesion » added.

‘In addition, the ministry has designed the subsequent phases of the residential programfocusing on border areas. We have already made a proposal for funding of 200 million euros for the construction of additional 1,500 houses in the eastern Aegean islands and in the prefecture of Evros. The target is to cover 35% of existing housing requests by 2027, with the final horizon of the number of 4,000 apartments across the country by 2030 » The minister analyzed.

For the military servicehe said that “New demands are created in an army that is not as in other purely professional countries and is, rightly based, on the participation of the Greek citizen – a hoplite.”

‘The term’, explained, ‘must evolve to serve the modern security needs of our country and at the same time be useful for young people. In this regard, the upgrading of basic education, as well as specialty training, is planned. They will now be integrated processes of acquiring extensive business knowledge. “

“After basic education,” he continued, “the hoplites who wish it will also be able to participate in certified skills acquisition and development programs that will help them in their later lives and their career path.”

“Target”as he made clear, ‘It is up to 2030 there is a force of 150,000 active volunteerswhich can meet immediate business needs if needed. “

“It also goes on,” he said, “the design of the voluntary term of women, whose implementation will be a great cut, providing access to the Armed Forces to a very important human capital.”

For the military estateMr. Dendias was vertical saying that “It is not an inert capital. It is a functional and historical resource, whose management must be institutionally guaranteed and fully transparent. “

More specifically, as he said, “The bill will be submitted to the exploitation of all the real estate of the Armed Forces in the near future.”

“Starting with the recording of real estate and the development of a complete digital real estate register, so that no infrastructure, no building, no piece of land remains out of supervision. The process will be constantly updated so that the state knows, evaluate and decide in specific criteria and unacceptable way. “ emphasized.

“In this regard, we are creating a statutory body for the unified management of military property. This body will not function as a profit “Real Estate”, but as a business arm for the productive utilization of property in favor of the staff of all the Armed Forces, funding the residential program » The Minister of National Defense stressed.

For the Strengthening the domestic defense industryMr. Dendias characterized her “Strategic choice” as he said “it is a fact that today’s domestic industry’s contribution to the needs of the Armed Forces is very low”.

“The new long -term program of defense equipment (BAEs) explicitly provides that equipment contracts will include a 25%Greek -added Greek -added involvement. In the direction of developing defense technology in our country, the role of the Hellenic Defense Innovation Center (ELKAK), which is the channel with the business field, is also important.Plined.

‘Our goal in each case is the Greece to claim presence in technological developments and the our defensive industry Contribute to the development of the Greek economy and the exploitation of the country’s human resources. We aspire for Greece to be no longer a country that spends billions on its defense and holds nothing about its production. “ pointed out.

‘The Our armed forces will now be not only buyersbut also Technology Developers. After all, domestic production is not just an economic investment. It creates know -how, extroversion and highly specialized jobs. This is the real content of our strategy: ‘Defense with Greek signature’ he said.

For them opportunities of Greece to persuade European countries not to supply military equipment from TurkeyMr. Dendias said: “The point is not to impose a decision on another country, but to highlight the wider consequences of such an option, which may exceed the narrow economic or technical benefits.”

‘We owe’, continued, “To move with persuasion and make it clear what is the deepest danger of such a decision. When a country introduces weapons systems from states that do not participate in the EU and do not embrace the same values ​​and principles and respect for international law, then it is at risk not only to operate under the system of values ​​that united Europe today expresses, but also to find it.

“The main danger behind this is the transfer of sophisticated know-how to Turkey. We must also not forget the goal of EU strategic autonomy. In the field of Defense and Support of the Domestic Defense Industry of its Member States. Security in Europe is a collective affair. “ Complete.

‘As a state located on the union’s external borders and bears significant weight, Greece has the institutional and ethical basis to ask her partners to reinforce; and not to erodethe European Security System » Clear.

On the issue of the case of Tempsexplained that ‘Clearly, it also concerns justice “while officially that” it is extremely dangerous if Greek society ceases to have confidence in it. “

“It is,” he said, “but an issue that is judged by the political system as a whole. As a government, we must convince them that there will be plenty of light and investigating every aspect of the causes that led to the accident, dismantling once the arguments of allegedly concealment. It is our minimum debt to the families of the victims, as well as in the history of our lineup as a long -standing political power. “

‘This tragedy’he added, “That shocked and continues to shock Greek society concentrates over time and failures of state functioning. With this perspective he must deal with the investigation of the accident and the opposition. Not as a “request for the fall of the government”. The Greek people are clear that they do not tolerate an attempt to conceal, but they do not sign the attempted tooling. “