Paramount Industries Greece has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS) for the co-production of IRIX roving munitions.
This was announced during the Athens Defense Exhibition (DEFEA 2023).
The agreement provides for the manufacture of advanced long-range loitering munitions in Greece both for the Greek market and for possible export to international customers.
The partnership will also enable the transfer of IRIX manufacturing expertise to EAS and encourage their involvement in research and development for future system upgrades, defense capability enhancement and job creation.
Nikolaos Kostopoulos, CEO of Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS) said: “We are very excited to go into production, in Greece, with one of the most advanced long-range munitions in the world. In Paramount, we have found an ideal strategic partner, recognized as one of the pioneers in the ammunition industry.
EAS and Paramount jointly developed an innovative and advanced product, specially designed for the Greek market, the IRIX. It is a project of light for the reconstruction and strengthening of the Greek defense industry, of which we are extremely proud."
EAS is a Greek state-owned company with a 140-year history in the design, development, manufacture and supply of NATO-style defense systems to the Greek armed forces. The main shareholder is the Greek Ministry of Finance and the company is supervised by the Ministry of National Defense.
Hovering munitions are like an unmanned vehicle, launched from the ground in all conditions with the operator directing them to the target.
Depending on their type, they operate within a radius of 200 km, and have an autonomy of up to 9 hours flying at 15,000 feet.
New techniques and new methods are emerging from a cruel and merciless war between Ukraine, combined with the "orgasm" in the Turkish defense industry and the crude threats we have been receiving from Ankara, at least for two years.
The early lessons of this war bring to the fore again the "forgotten" and neglected Greek infantry, which, as everything shows, will be upgraded in terms of its capabilities immediately.
The new doctrine wants future Greek "infantrymen" to operate in small groups modeled after tank destroyers, command posts, supply lines and missile arrays.
Equipped with floating munitions, our men will be able to neutralize a whole range of targets, from headquarters and concentrations of weapons systems, to ammunition depots and even long-range anti-aircraft systems like TAYFUN missiles.
Adapted all these to our islands, they will almost certainly bring changes, in combination with the new weapon systems (floating ammunition-drones-communication systems and TOMA).
