AeroVironment will establish a joint venture in Greece to pursue local production of drones, loitering munitions, and counter-drone systems.
AeroVironment (AV) will establish a joint venture in Greece to pursue local production of drones, loitering munitions, and counter-drone systems for European customers.
The US defense company will create AV Eagle with Athens-based Eyeonix SA after completing a definitive shareholders agreement and securing foreign direct investment approval from Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
AV Eagle is expected to start in 2027 and will serve as AV's base for investment, localization, and production in the broader European market. Production capabilities are expected to become operational by 2028.
AV CEO Wahid Nawai said the move comes as “the security environment in Europe has created unprecedented demand for advanced, reliable autonomous systems.”
“This joint venture is about more than delivering technology — it’s about building long-term capacity with Greece and our NATO allies and partners, creating opportunities for local industry, and scaling manufacturing to meet urgent operational needs,” Nawai said.
Defense Firms Expand European Footprint
AeroVironment's planned Greek venture follows a broader push by defense companies to establish production and technology partnerships inside Europe.
In July, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall unveiled plans to establish a joint venture for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) production in Germany. The proposed facility would become the first ATACMS production site outside the US and would support production, integration, and distribution for European NATO members and other allies.
The same month, Anduril and Poland’s state-owned defense group PGZ announced the creation of a production facility in Bydgoszcz for the surface-launched Barracuda-500M cruise missile.
In February, South Korean firm Hanwha Aerospace said it is building a production facility in Romania for K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.
