Greece signed an agreement with British advanced maritime technology company SubSea Craft (SSC) to develop at the Skaramagas Shipyards, south of Athens, one of the world’s most advanced diver delivery units (DDUs).
DDUs are specialized submersible vehicles used by military forces to transport divers, equipment, and supplies underwater, typically for covert operations. They are essential tools for naval special forces and maritime units, facilitating stealthy movement in challenging underwater environments.
VICTA, the submersible vehicle for Greece
VICTA, the SSC’s flagship vehicle, is a small, streamlined vehicle designed for stealth, speed, and efficiency underwater.
It can carry a team of divers, along with their specialized equipment such as weapons, tools for sabotage, or reconnaissance devices. Some units are designed to be launched from submarines, ships, or shorelines, and they can operate over considerable distances to reach mission targets.
Deal with Greece goes beyond the Diver Delivery Unit
The agreement between Greece and SSC lays the foundations for developing next-generation maritime technologies for the Hellenic Navy and broader European defense markets.
It will also establish a dedicated Innovation Hub to support National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias’ vision for driving innovation through the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation (HCDI).
The Hub will advance the development and testing of manned and unmanned maritime capabilities, as well as enable collaboration with allied nations to address security challenges in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
The Greek Ministry of Defense says that by utilizing Skaramangas Shipyards, the agreement ensures local production, servicing, and future scalability of advanced platforms, including SSC’s next-generation maritime delivery platform VICTA and MARS, an advanced unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
It adds that through their collaboration, SSC and Skaramangas will drive significant opportunities for boosting Greece’s industrial growth, creating jobs, and reinforcing regional stability by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and bolstering domestic defense capabilities.
The partnership is closely aligned with the National Defense Ministry’s modernization objectives, contributing to the strengthening of NATO’s southern flank.
Innovation hub
Central to this effort is the Innovation Hub, which will act as a testing ground for advanced technologies such as autonomous systems, AI integration, and manned-unmanned teaming platforms. These technologies will also contribute to Greece’s dual-use military strategy, serving both defense and civil protection missions.
The Innovation Hub will further build domestic capacity by equipping Greek researchers and engineers with the expertise to develop, maintain, and operate next-generation platforms. Moreover, it will strengthen bilateral collaboration between Greece and the UK, enhancing defense cooperation in line with both nations’ commitments under the Joint Vision Statement signed last year.
While the initial focus will be on refining the VICTA diver delivery unit, the partnership creates the foundations for developing a broader range of surface and sub-surface platforms, tailored to meet the evolving requirements of the Hellenic Navy.
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