The Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, spoke about the “Aegis 2” armament program, which aims to completely modernize the Hellenic Coast Guard, in an interview he gave to Open TV and journalists Nikos Stravelakis and Mina Karamitrou.
As he pointed out, with the implementation of the program, “the Coast Guard will enter a new era, so that it can face any threat at the maritime borders of our country. From illegal immigration and drug trafficking to trafficking, arms trade and any illegal activities.”
Mr. Kikilias emphasized that “Aegis 2” will run at the same speed as the “Aegis” of the Civil Protection. “Just as we managed within 15 months to deliver the most ambitious and large Civil Protection program in the history of the country, as a result of which fire engines are now being received – in September the three Air Surveillance, the Aegean surveillance aircraft, will be received, Civil Protection is being staffed and strengthened and this fills us with pride but also responsibility for the way in which we move – similarly, we want “Aegis 2” to be the way in which the Coast Guard will move into the modern era,” he stated characteristically.
He added that for the first time, an effort will be made to implement the program to build new vessels in Greek shipyards. “The goal is this. Within the framework of legality and transparency – because you cannot exclude someone from participating in the tenders – but the government’s goal is to support and create new jobs in Greek shipyards,” he said, underlining the decisive role that the new Coast Guard vessels will play in guarding the sea borders and combating illegal immigration, which will include two large offshore vessels, over 80 meters long, that will have helipads, as well as coastal patrol and high-speed pursuit vessels. Furthermore, as he said, the supplies of “Aegis 2” include drones and unmanned submarines, while the role of the new Operations Center (War Room) will be crucial, along the lines of the War Room created in Civil Protection with the use of artificial intelligence.
“It is an ambitious program, but I want the Greek people and Greek society to know that we respect every euro, whether it comes from Greek or European resources, and we must support and relieve our islands and support all these areas that are washed by the sea, but also our central ports that are a source of revenue, development and economic power for the country. You see the announcements that are being made about LNG, about the way it will move north from Alexandroupolis to the rest of Europe, what geostrategic and geopolitical possibilities this gives us and how the country is strengthened on the global chessboard. All of this does not happen magically, it happens with effort and effort,” the Minister stated characteristically.
