Skaramagas: training centre opens for uncrewed maritime systems
The new joint-service school covers operation, maintenance, repairs and simulation. The Greek-designed Pyrpolitis is still in final autonomy testing.
A new Joint Training Centre for Uncrewed and Autonomous Maritime Systems opened on 13 October 2026 at the PALASKAS Training Centre in the Skaramagas Naval Fort.
What the new facility will teach
According to the Greek Ministry of National Defence, training covers surface and subsurface systems, basic maintenance and repairs, simulator use and practical operational scenarios at the Naval Training Command's maritime testing range.
The facility is described as joint-service, meaning it is intended to support training beyond a single branch of the armed forces. The announcement does not yet publish trainee numbers, course duration or operating costs.
Pyrpolitis and its development stage
The inauguration featured Pyrpolitis, an uncrewed surface vessel that the ministry says was designed, developed and built by the Hellenic Navy. It can be used for intelligence collection, surveillance and reconnaissance, while the ministry also cites a capability for missions against floating targets.
Its autonomous functions are in the final testing stage. Full operational use should therefore not be treated as already complete. The CORSAIR, PLUTO PLUS and PLUTINO systems were also displayed.
What has been decided — and what has not
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias described large-scale production of Pyrpolitis as the next step. This is a stated policy direction. The announcement does not provide a procurement or production decision, budget, contract or delivery timetable.
The confirmed new event is the opening of the training facility and the display of the systems. Claims about future European leadership and mass production are government objectives that will depend on subsequent administrative and funding decisions.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek