Centauros: Greece's anti-drone system that changes 'war of drones' at low cost | Euronews
AI Analysis
Greece's Centauros anti-drone system, developed by Hellenic Aircraft Industry, uses electronic warfare to neutralize UAVs by jamming signals, offering a cost-effective alternative to missile-based defenses. It has proven effective in combat, notably against Houthi drones, and is attracting international interest.
Key Takeaways
- Centauros uses electronic warfare to jam drone communication and navigation signals.
- Developed by Hellenic Aircraft Industry, it is cost-effective and battle-tested.
- The system has a range of 25 to 40 kilometers and can engage multiple drones simultaneously.
- It was successfully used by the frigate Psara in 2024 during EU Operation Aspides.
- Countries like Armenia and Gulf states have shown interest in acquiring the system.
Why It Matters
The Centauros system represents a strategic shift towards more sustainable and cost-effective counter-UAS solutions, reducing reliance on expensive missile-based defenses. Its international interest highlights the growing demand for efficient anti-drone technologies amid increasing drone warfare threats.
Centauros: Greece's anti-drone system that changes 'war of drones' at low cost | Euronews
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Published on 07/04/2026 - 11:15 GMT+2
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The anti-drone system, named after a mythical creature symbolising untamed forces of nature, uses electronic warfare technology to detect and neutralise UAVs without munitions.
Greece is attracting international interest in its Centauros anti-drone system, a cost-effective electronic warfare platform that has proven its worth in combat operations against Houthi drones in the Red Sea.
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The system, developed by state-owned Hellenic Aircraft Industry or EAV, neutralises unmanned aerial vehicles by jamming communication and navigation signals rather than destroying them with missiles.
Kyriakos Enotiadis, director of EAV's electronics sector, said the system has drawn interest from countries beyond Greece and Cyprus, including Armenia and Gulf states. "It is a system that is battle-tested" and cost-effective compared to traditional methods, he said.
The Centauros works by detecting and jamming radio signals from drones at long range, providing operators with critical reaction time.
"We are talking about an electronic warfare system that has the ability to pick up the radio waves of a UAV from very long distances, giving reaction time to shoot it down much more easily and quickly, without consuming ammunition," Enotiadis said.
The key advantage is that the system "consumes only electricity," drastically reducing response costs compared to missile-based defences.
The Centauros has a range of 25 to 40 kilometres and can engage multiple targets simultaneously, creating what Enotiadis described as a "very large umbrella of protection" with no real limit on the number of drones it can neutralise within its coverage area.
The frigate Psara used the system in July 2024 to counter Houthi drone attacks during EU Operation Aspides in the Gulf of Aden.
The ship engaged four drones, downing two and forcing the others to withdraw. Some interceptions were achieved exclusively through the Centauros system.
Enotiadis noted that similar operations have cost hundreds of millions in intercepting low-cost drones. The power-based system represents a more sustainable approach, he said.
The Centauros can be installed in fixed infrastructure,