In the runup to DEFEA 2025, Dimitrios Dafnis, CEO and Chairman of Aeroservices, talks to Business Partners about the opportunities emerging for Greece’s defense industry and the fundamental importance of cultivating strong partnerships and collaborations between the Greek and US industries in order to excel and advance.
As Europe moves to rearm itself and enhance its readiness, what are the key opportunities that you see emerging for the Greek defense industry in terms of growth and collaboration prospects within the broader European defense framework?
The ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative may be a great opportunity to reestablish Europe’s defense strength amid a very volatile global situation. It is time for Europe to take its own defense more seriously and move forward with considerable investments in the production and maintenance of weapon systems necessary for the country to defend itself. This is a great opportunity for the Hellenic defense industry to be part of this effort, participating from day one in the development of new systems, with strong partnerships with other European companies and consortia.
Tell us a bit about collaborations between the Greek defense industry and its partners in the United States. How do such partnerships contribute to enhancing Greece’s defense capabilities?
The Hellenic Republic, being a longtime buyer of US-made weapons systems, is constantly developing collaborations between Hellenic and US companies in the coproduction, but mainly in the maintenance of such systems. The excellent relations between the two countries create huge potential to further develop existing collaborations and open wide horizons for new ones. Existing partnerships have already enabled the revitalization, sustainment, and modernization of a number of weapons systems vital for ensuring the country’s defense and security. In light of new investment from the Hellenic government and its commitment to demanding the participation of the local defense industry, we expect to see stronger and deeper partnerships that will dramatically enhance our country’s defense capabilities.
The US’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program is pivotal for many defense industries globally. What kind of opportunities do FMS programs present for companies like yours, and what strategic initiatives is Aeroservices pursuing to capitalize on them?
FMS was and still is a great tool for the United States to support its allies, but also for Greece to obtain modern defense technology and systems in a quick, transparent, and very competitive way. Through our participation in FMS programs, Aeroservices has developed considerable capabilities to support the Hellenic Armed Forces in an effective manner, while at the same time developing strong relationships with the US defense industry and benefiting from defense technology transfer. Indeed, partnerships with the US defense industry have enabled us to develop invaluable capabilities for providing longterm support to the Hellenic Armed Forces and the armed forces of neighboring countries. Such partnerships with the US defense industry, enabled by FMS programs, are a strategic goal for Aeroservices, and we strive to develop strong longterm partnerships based on quality services and transparent procedures.
Closer to home, how does collaborating with AmCham Greece support your mandate and the industry’s broader goals?
Working hard and efficiently to strengthen collaboration between the two countries, the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce is an important tool, preparing the ground and moving barriers to enable collaborations between the Hellenic and US defense industries.