Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Created by Karamanlis’s government after the fall of the junta, Greece’s state aerospace works at Tanagra keeps the air force flying and has built drones since the Pegasus of 1982.
Hellenic Aerospace Industry: the company and the aircraft that made its name
A works for a new republic
Hellenic Aerospace Industry was created in 1975 by decision of Constantine Karamanlis’s government, in the year after democracy returned to Greece. It was built at Tanagra, 65 kilometres north-west of Athens, on an industrial site of 200,000 square metres beside the air force base. Its core job has always been keeping the Hellenic Air Force flying: maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrades of combat aircraft, and overhaul of engines such as the T53, T56 and the Atar.
Drones before drones were fashionable
HAI was also an early drone builder. Development of the Pegasus UAV began in 1979 with the Greek research body KETA, the Pegasus first flew in 1982, and an upgraded Pegasus II was ready by 2005. A jet-powered UAV, Telamon, appeared in 1986 but was discontinued. In 2000 HAI joined the European nEUROn unmanned combat aircraft programme, and in January 2025 it announced serial production of the Centaur counter-drone system.
Parts for the giants
As a subcontractor it builds parts for the world’s largest manufacturers. It joined the F-16 programme with Lockheed Martin in 1996, has made the cargo door surround for the Boeing 787 since 2005, and in March 2007 joined Eurofighter work. From November 2007 it upgraded US Air Force F-16s, delivering the first in March 2008. The company employs about 2,000 people and is wholly owned by the state, though it was flagged for restructuring in 2010.
Hellenic Aerospace Industry in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 1975
- Created by the Karamanlis government
- 200,000 square metre complex at Tanagra
- About 2,000 employees (2021)
Production
- Best known for
- Pegasus UAV, aerostructures
- Pegasus UAV first flight 1982
- Boeing 787 cargo door surround since 2005
- F-16 parts and upgrades
Today
- Now
- State-owned
- 100 percent owned by the Greek state
- Centaur counter-UAV system in production from 2025
The numbers
- Employees
- about 2,0002021
- Revenue
- 98.02 million euros2014
- Net income
- 13.69 million euros2014
- Site area
- 200,000 square metres
Every notable Hellenic Aerospace Industry aircraft
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAI Pegasus | Reconnaissance UAV | 1982 | Developed with KETA from 1979 | ||
| HAI Pegasus II | Reconnaissance UAV | Upgraded Pegasus | |||
| HAI Telamon | Jet-powered UAV | 1986 | Retired | Project discontinued | |
| Dassault nEUROn | UCAV demonstrator (partner) | HAI a programme partner |
Hellenic Aerospace Industry aircraft in the world’s air forces
1 air forces in the Order of Battle fly or flew Hellenic Aerospace Industry types. 1 of them still have one in service.
| Air force | In service | Formerly flown |
|---|---|---|
| Hellenic Air Force | HAI Pegasus I/II |
Where Hellenic Aerospace Industry built, who led it, what it achieved
Factories
- Tanagra complex · Tanagra, Boeotia — 65 km north-west of Athens; 200,000 square metres
Hellenic Aerospace Industry, year by year
HAI created by government decision
Pegasus UAV development begins
Pegasus first flight
Joins F-16 programme with Lockheed Martin
Joins nEUROn programme
Boeing 787 cargo door surround work begins
Joins Eurofighter work
First upgraded US Air Force F-16 delivered
Identified as needing restructuring
Centaur counter-UAV system announced for production
Everything people ask about Hellenic Aerospace Industry
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Around Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Every fact, checked
Verified 2026-10-03.