Greek Startup Disrupts Europe’s Defense Market with Autonomy

From Silicon Valley to Greek Startup

In the summer of 2021, after six years at Apple’s Special Projects Group, Dimitrious Kottas left California to found Delian Alliance Industries in Athens. Drawing on his GPS-denied navigation research and autonomous system expertise, he set out to bring advanced defense technology to Europe from a small Greek base.

Pragmatic Entry with Solar Surveillance Towers

Delian’s first product is a solar-powered observation tower that monitors remote borders and islands around the clock. Using cameras, lidars and radar, these towers detect intrusions and wildfires, providing real-time alerts to security forces without relying on local power or communications infrastructure.

• Energy-autonomous operation for 24/7 coverage
• Integrated multi-sensor perception for improved threat assessment

Next-Gen Concealed Autonomous Systems

Building on the tower success, Delian developed the “Interceptigon” series: sea and aerial drones designed to lie dormant until activation. The most novel is a two-meter suicide vessel that rests on the seabed undetected, then surfaces on command to intercept hostile craft.

• Stealth deployment in littoral zones beyond satellite reach
• Patented low-cost commercial material manufacturing

Navigating Europe’s Defense Fragmentation

Despite $22 million in funding and proven deployments in Greece, Delian must overcome Europe’s splintered defense market. U.S. pressure to buy American and national loyalty to domestic primes pose hurdles. Yet EU initiatives like Safe and ReARM Europe are paving the way for cross-border collaboration.

Balancing Vision and Resilience

Kottas insists that building in a smaller, fragmented market forces Delian to focus on efficiency, low price points and resilient design. With personal stakes in regional security, his mission combines cutting-edge autonomy with a local mindset—aiming to save lives in Europe and prove that geography can trump nationality.