GEK TERNA seeks to strengthen its presence in the defense sector through the new agreement with the American Shield AI, which provides for the joint development of an industrial base and support infrastructure for the X-BAT in Greece.
The X-BAT is an under-development unmanned combat aircraft that uses artificial intelligence technologies and will be able to take off and land vertically, operating from ships, islands or remote locations without requiring a runway. At the same time, it will be able to carry weapons systems.
This is an agreement under which GEK TERNA will act as strategic partner of Shield AI in Greece.
Mr. Peristeris' group will undertake the management and strengthening of the Greek supplier base, which will include small and medium-sized enterprises expected to participate in the program, while at the same time it will be responsible for operating the local office of the X-BAT program.
The participation of Greek industry is expected to include the manufacture and assembly of components, ground equipment, operational bases and launch facilities, training centers, maintenance and repair, as well as research in cooperation with Greek universities, targeting not only Greece but also the wider region.
"Greece is already operating our aircraft over the Aegean and Greek engineers are already working on our software, therefore X-BAT is the next step in this relationship," said James Lythgoe, Shield AI's regional director for Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
"GEK TERNA builds and manages highways, airports, energy systems and critical digital infrastructure on which Greece depends.
We want to leverage the same capability in the design, implementation and overall operation of technologically complex projects, building the launch facilities, the training centers, the maintenance and repair facilities, as well as the support centers and the industrial base to keep the X-BAT operational, in Greece and throughout the Eastern Mediterranean," he added.
For his part, Giorgos Kouladis, Head of Investment Monitoring at GEK TERNA, stated that "with Shield AI, we want Greek companies to assemble, integrate and support the X-BAT here, with the aim of making Greece the place where operators from the wider region will be trained and will carry out its maintenance".
The two companies are considering the possibility of making Greece a regional hub for the training, supply and maintenance of the X-BAT, with services to Cyprus, the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.