During the inauguration of the fourth unit at the Volos defense hub, Metlen CEO Evangelos Mytilineos highlighted the importance of implementing the government’s decision requiring a 25% share of domestic production in all defense systems.
Referring to the need for more substantial participation by the Greek defense industry in procurement programs, Metlen’s Executive Chairman not only described the government’s decision as a step in the right direction but also publicly proposed that bids exceeding a specific percentage receive additional scoring points.
Addressing Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, who was present, Mr. Mytilineos proposed paying a bonus to Greek companies when domestic participation exceeds 25% in a defense contract, on the grounds that this would create even stronger incentives for greater Greek participation.
“A strong defense industry is a fundamental prerequisite for ensuring national sovereignty and requires cooperation between businesses, the government, and the armed forces,” he noted, speaking about the need to foster a culture of close cooperation between Greek companies and the armed forces.
“The time has come for the armed forces and Greek industry to grow much closer, as is the case in developed countries,” said Mr. Mytilineos, citing the United States and Germany as examples, where defense technology and industrial production are developed in close cooperation with military authorities.
He emphasized that the armed forces are justified in demanding that taxpayers’ money be used in the best possible way, while at the same time creating the conditions for the procurement of Greek defense products.
In this regard, he noted that the portfolio of M Technologies, Metlen’s defense division, can make a substantial contribution toward this goal, strengthening the country’s self-sufficiency and its preparedness for an international environment that is becoming increasingly demanding and uncertain.
Referring to developments in Europe, he noted that the exemption of defense spending from budgetary constraints, joint procurement, and new European funding programs are indications that Europe is seeking ways to address new security challenges.
In this context, Ev. Mytilineos presented Metlen’s new investment as part of a broader strategic plan that links the metals, energy, and defense sectors into a single ecosystem. “This is precisely the group’s competitive advantage. The new facility is part of a broader defense industrial system that will contribute both to strengthening the country’s capabilities and to the international presence of the Greek defense industry,” he noted.
In recent years, the company’s industrial infrastructure at the Volos complex has expanded significantly. From two factories in the past, Metlen now operates six facilities covering a total area of 100,000 square meters, with the company collaborating on the production of specialized weapon systems with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Naval Group, KNDS, and Thales.
“The defense industry is not just about military power. Countries with a strong manufacturing base, know-how, and innovation are the ones that achieve higher levels of prosperity, as well as greater resilience and influence in international affairs,” Mr. Mytilineos pointed out.
As he notably pointed out, Greece currently has companies that have weathered the decade-long economic crisis and are capable of creating “true miracles” in the air, at sea, and on land, particularly at a time when global demand for defense products is constantly rising.