Hellenic Coast Guard

Growthfund (the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, Ε.Ε.ΣΥ.Π.) is running an open tender, through its Strategic Contracts Unit, for drones for the Hellenic Coast Guard on behalf of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. Its technical specifications, dated 24 November 2025, give an estimated budget of €20 million, 75 per cent co-financed by the EU, for several classes of unmanned aircraft, from tactical drones of up to 7 kg to systems above 100 kg and medium VTOL fixed-wing aircraft. The software requirements include "AI αλγόριθμοι για αναγνώριση στόχων" (AI algorithms for target recognition) of vessels, people and vehicles, real-time follow and track functions, threat assessment with active flight adjustment, and detection of anomalies, incidents or dangerous behaviour. Change notice 615664-2026 (OJ S 172/2026, 7 September 2026), amending contract notice 511082-2026, puts the estimated value at €34.8 million including options (a €10 million quantity extension and €4.8 million for up to three years of maintenance), with tenders due by 17 September 2026; the notice itself does not mention AI. Naftemporiki (18 May 2026) reports the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Kikilias, saying that a digital Coast Guard operations centre with AI capabilities had already been tendered and that drones would be linked to it, within the ΑΙΓΙΣ 2 (Aegis 2) modernisation programme. No contract award has been reported.