Israel and Greece have signed an approximately €3 billion defence agreement under which Israel will develop and supply Greece with a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence network based on Israeli technology.
The agreement, known as “Achilles Shield” in Greece, was signed Monday at the headquarters of Israel’s Ministry of Defense by the ministry’s Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras.
Israeli officials described the agreement as the largest defence export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest defence export agreements in Israel’s history.
The system is designed to protect Greece against a broad range of threats, including ballistic missiles, aircraft and hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Israeli systems to form the defence network
The €3 billion programme will combine several Israeli-developed and manufactured systems, including:
- David’s Sling, developed by Israel’s Missile Defense Organization with Rafael as the prime developer;
- BARAK MX, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI);
- SPYDER, manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems;
- MMR multi-mission radars, produced by ELTA Systems, an IAI subsidiary; and
- A new national command-and-control system, to be developed by Rafael and designed to integrate Greece’s air-defence capabilities.
Israeli officials said the project represents the first time the Israeli Ministry of Defense will supply a foreign country with a complete air-defence architecture covering multiple categories of aerial threats.
Additional €26 million drone-defence agreement
A separate €26 million agreement was also signed for Rafael’s Drone Dome systems.
The technology is intended to protect strategic installations against drones and other UAV threats while strengthening Greece’s existing air-defence capabilities.
The agreements also include plans to expand defence-industrial cooperation between Israel and Greece, including the transfer of knowledge and technology to Greek industry.
Strengthening strategic ties
The deal marks another major development in defence cooperation between Israel and Greece, which Israeli officials describe as an important strategic partnership in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense said Greece’s decision to make Israeli technology the backbone of its most ambitious air-defence expansion programme in the past decade demonstrates the level of confidence developed between the two countries.
The agreement also comes as Israel seeks to expand its defence exports following the country’s experience operating its missile-defence and counter-drone systems during the ongoing war.
Israeli defence officials said operational experience has contributed to growing international demand for the country’s defence technologies.
The Israeli government has increasingly positioned defence exports as an instrument for strengthening the country’s defence industry, supporting economic activity and deepening strategic relationships with partner nations.
Under the new agreement, Greece is expected to receive an integrated defence architecture combining air surveillance, missile interception, short- and medium-range air defence, counter-drone capabilities and centralised command and control.
The project therefore represents a significant expansion of bilateral military and industrial cooperation between Israel and Greece and a major investment in Greece’s future air-defence capabilities.
