On behalf of the Hellenic Republic and the Ministry of National Defence, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, attended the opening ceremony of the Greek Pavilion at the “AUSA 2022” International Defence Equipment Exhibition yesterday, Monday, October 10, 2022. The exhibition is held from October 10-12, 2022 in Washington, DC.

For the 9th consecutive year, under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defence, with the support of Enterprise Greece, the cooperation of the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association (SEKPY) and the Hellenic Aerospace Security & Defence Industries Group, fifteen Greek defence companies, together with the National Research Center for Natural Sciences “Demokritos”, are participating in this year’s particularly important exhibition, one of the largest of its kind worldwide. During the said exhibition, the companies will have the opportunity to underline the potential of the Greek defence industry, which is constantly developing with the solid and consistent support of the State.

In this global event held for the promotion of defence equipment, which more than ten countries attend with their national pavilions, opportunities are created for international collaborations and exports of high-added value for the benefit of both Greek defence system companies and the national economy in general.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of National Defence, the National Science Research Center “Demokritos” and the companies Aeroservices, Alpha Systems, DEFEA-Defence Exhibition Athens, Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS), λ-Automata, SAS–Spirit Aeronautical Systems, Scytalys, Theon Sensors, Akmon, Althom Engineering, Altus LSA, Elfon, FEAC Engineering, HED Engineering and Miltech Hellas are participating in the National Pavilion as exhibitors.

The opening ceremony of the Greek Pavilion was attended by the Ambassador of Greece to the USA, Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defence Exports & Cooperation DASA–DE&C, Mr. Patrick Mason, the President & CEO of “AUSA 2022”, General (ret.) Robert Brown, the Greek Commander of the US Army Forces, General Andrew Peter Poppas, the Director of the General Directorate of Defence Investments & Armaments (GDDIA) of the Ministry of National Defence, Vice Admiral (ret.) Aristides Alexopoulos, the President of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Nikolaos Bakatselos, and the Authorized Advisor & Executive Member of the Board of Directors of Enterprise Greece, Mrs. Betty Alexandropoulos.

The event was also attended by the Deputy Commander of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kellis, the Director of the Directorate of Finance of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Major General Athanasios Dimitriadis, and the Director of the Support Directorate, Brigadier Theodoros Zikos, and of the Defence Planning and Programming Directorate, Brigadier Nikolaos Gretsas.

Finally, the Deputy Minister of National Defence addressed a greeting in the context of the Greek Pavilion opening ceremony where in closing he stated: I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to the 2nd DEFEA, our international defense and security exhibition that will take place in Athens from 9 to 11 May 2023.