Hellenic Defence Systems S.A. (EAS)

Hellenic Defence Systems, known in Greece by its initials EAS and still often called EBO-PYRKAL, is the only Greek industry designing and building NATO pattern guns, ammunition and weapon systems. The company in its present shape dates from 2004, when the Greek Powder and Cartridge Company, PYRKAL, merged with the Hellenic Arms Industry, EBO, and it traces the underlying business back around 140 years. Its headquarters are at Hymettus near central Athens, the workforce is around 500 people, and the Hellenic Ministry of Finance is the main shareholder with the Ministry of National Defence exercising supervision. Ownership has stayed with the Greek state through the recent restructuring, but operating control of part of the business has not: in 2025 EAS agreed a joint venture with Czechoslovak Group, Hellenic Ammunition SA, in which the Czech partner invests around 50 million euros and takes management of the Lavrion production site for 25 years to expand 155mm shell, base bleed and TNT output.

Four plant complexes carry the work. Hymettus, where the head office sits, makes small calibre ammunition in 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 12.7mm along with aircraft training bombs, cartridge cases, projectile bodies and the metal parts and warheads for the Stinger rocket and the IRIS-T missile, and it houses the NATO qualified national centre for static and ballistic tests. Aeghion in Achaia builds the guns and weapons: pistols, sub-machine guns, rifles, machine guns and mortars, their magazines, bayonets and mounts, and quick change barrels in .50 calibre, 20mm and 30mm. Lavrion loads and assembles large calibre ammunition, aircraft bombs and shaped charge natures, fills IRIS-T and Stinger warheads, produces TNT, nitrocellulose, propellants and reinforced plastics, and holds one of only five NATO certified missile assembly and disassembly facilities in the world. Mandra makes the twin 30mm cannon carriage for the Artemis 30 air defence system, aircraft pylons and drop tanks for F-16 and Mirage, 30mm naval turrets, canisters and tooling for Patriot, and integration work on the ASRAD Hellas and Velos air defence systems and the Kornet-E and Milan antitank systems.

The catalogue reflects that spread. Guns and weapons run from the 7.62mm G3 rifle, which EAS is the only Heckler & Koch licensee in Europe permitted to make, through the MG3 and HK11 A1 machine guns, the MP5, the USP pistol, the Minimi and the 40mm grenade machine gun, to 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars. Ammunition spans 5.56mm to 155mm, including the Ermis extended range projectile and cannon rounds from 20mm to 76mm. Weapon and missile systems cover Artemis 30, IRIS-T and Patriot support work, and vehicle update work covers BMP-1 overhaul and modernisation. Exports reach roughly forty countries. EAS is the exclusive supplier of Greek made weapons and ammunition to the Greek armed and security forces, and is a qualified supplier to several foreign defence ministries including those of the United States, France and India. Quality work runs to ISO 9001 and to NATO AQAP-2110 in customer contracts.