EBO
Encyclopedia
The Hellenic Arms Industry has been the main arms manufacturer of Greece
. Its creation is linked to a desire of Greek governments for "complete self-sufficiency" of Greece in the areas of personal and other weapons (in contrast to past experience when local manufacturers could only partially cover the needs of the Greek Armed Forces).
of Peiraeus, for the adoption of its own-developed rifles and submachine guns, was rejected after testing proved that its weapons were not up to desired standards. Similarly, the Greek state did not support Pyrkal
, which was already producing the FN FAL
rifle under license. Subsequently, EBO was founded by the state in Aigion in 1976, after an agreement to initially produce under licence Heckler and Koch models adopted by the Greek Army, but with the intent to also design arms of its own. During its foundation ceremony, a Greek pistol of the 1820s (used in the Greek Revolution) was placed on the foundation stone to represent the continuity of Greece's arms-making craft.
Since that time, the company has grown by significantly acquiring other companies, and has produced in its several factories hundreds of thousands of rifles (military and civilian) and machine guns, as well as pistols, mortars, ammunition and explosives, rocket launchers, land mines, grenades, anti-aircraft weapons, various types of bombs, cannons, night vision equipment, aircraft metal parts, as well as specialized machinery, tools, uniforms, body armor vests and reinforced composite/plastics. Many of the above are of EBO's own development (and have included novel systems like the Artemis 30
Anti-Aircraft System and the Aris IV
Anti-Tank Rocket). The company has also been a major and well-known exporter of weapons. However, its financial state has been shaky almost since its early steps, undoubtedly in connection to its state ownership. In 2004, it merged with Pyrkal, forming EAS
, in an effort of the Greek state to better control and regulate this sector of the nation's defence industry.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Its creation is linked to a desire of Greek governments for "complete self-sufficiency" of Greece in the areas of personal and other weapons (in contrast to past experience when local manufacturers could only partially cover the needs of the Greek Armed Forces).
History
A proposal in 1975 by a big Greek chemical company, ChropeiChropei
CHROPEI, also spelled as CHROPI , was a historic Greek chemical company. It was founded in 1883 by chemists Spilios and Leontios Economides and has traditionally been a major synthetic dye and pharmaceuticals manufacturer.An important contributor to Greece's defence effort during...
of Peiraeus, for the adoption of its own-developed rifles and submachine guns, was rejected after testing proved that its weapons were not up to desired standards. Similarly, the Greek state did not support Pyrkal
Pyrkal
Founded in 1874, Pyrkal is one of the oldest Defence Industries in Greece and the main producer of ammunition and explosives in the country. Throughout its history it has been one of the largest Greek companies, in fact a reflection of the history of Greek Industry itself...
, which was already producing the FN FAL
FN FAL
The Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...
rifle under license. Subsequently, EBO was founded by the state in Aigion in 1976, after an agreement to initially produce under licence Heckler and Koch models adopted by the Greek Army, but with the intent to also design arms of its own. During its foundation ceremony, a Greek pistol of the 1820s (used in the Greek Revolution) was placed on the foundation stone to represent the continuity of Greece's arms-making craft.
Since that time, the company has grown by significantly acquiring other companies, and has produced in its several factories hundreds of thousands of rifles (military and civilian) and machine guns, as well as pistols, mortars, ammunition and explosives, rocket launchers, land mines, grenades, anti-aircraft weapons, various types of bombs, cannons, night vision equipment, aircraft metal parts, as well as specialized machinery, tools, uniforms, body armor vests and reinforced composite/plastics. Many of the above are of EBO's own development (and have included novel systems like the Artemis 30
Artemis 30
The Artemis 30 is an anti-aircraft gun system originally developed in 1982 and produced by the Hellenic Arms Industry for use by the Greek armed forces in the Aegean sea...
Anti-Aircraft System and the Aris IV
Aris IV
ARIS IV was a portable one-shot 113 mm anti-tank weapon, built in Greece and designed by the Hellenic Arms Industry in 1984. It had a maximum range of 400m and penetration capability 700mm of steel. Lighter versions had also been developed...
Anti-Tank Rocket). The company has also been a major and well-known exporter of weapons. However, its financial state has been shaky almost since its early steps, undoubtedly in connection to its state ownership. In 2004, it merged with Pyrkal, forming EAS
EAS (weapons)
EAS is the company formed by the merger in 2004 of the Greek state Defense Companies EBO and Pyrkal. It is a huge organization with several factories and thousands of employees, with a product range that includes most land weapons in use today, as well as an established exporter to many countries...
, in an effort of the Greek state to better control and regulate this sector of the nation's defence industry.