ATHENS (Realist English). Greece’s National Security Council (KYSEA) on July 23 approved the procurement of a multi‑layer air defense system from Israel worth up to €3.5 billion ($4 billion).
As Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced, the system, dubbed the “Shield of Achilles,” is set to be fully operational within 35 months.
The “Shield of Achilles” will be based on Israeli radars and missile systems produced by defence contractors Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The multi‑layer architecture will provide protection against ballistic missiles, aircraft, and drones, while Greek companies will manufacture at least 25% of the system’s components. As Dendias stressed, “Greece has entered a new era, a new reality.”
The Turkish Factor and Regional Context
The decision to procure Israeli air defence is driven by the long‑standing confrontation with Turkey, on which Greece spends nearly 3.5% of GDP on defence — one of the highest ratios among NATO members. At the same time, Athens is lobbying the US Congress to block F‑35 fighter jet sales to Turkey.
Currently, Greek airspace is defended by US Patriots and ageing Russian S‑300s. The new system is intended to replace or supplement these systems, expanding the country’s ability to counter modern threats.
As a Defence Ministry source indicated, the modernisation programme must take into account “the lessons of the war in Ukraine” and prepare the armed forces for “the challenges of the 21st century.”
Largest Modernisation in Greek History
The “Shield of Achilles” procurement is part of a wide‑ranging rearmament programme, under which Greece plans to spend about €28 billion (or $32 billion according to some sources) by 2036. The package of contracts approved on July 23 also includes:
- three Embraer C‑390 Millennium military transport aircraft;
- ten British VICTA mini‑submarines for special operations;
- Israeli Heron drones;
- US V‑BAT UAVs.
Earlier, Greece had already purchased 36 rocket artillery systems from Israel for €650 million. Broader modernisation plans include up to 40 F‑35 fighter jets from the US, as well as frigates from France and Italy.
Athens‑Tel Aviv Defence Cooperation
Greece and Israel maintain close military ties: a joint flight training centre operates on Greek soil, along with annual exercises and joint development in counter‑drone protection and cybersecurity.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the project the “most radical” defence upgrade in the country’s modern history.
The “Shield of Achilles” contracts take immediate effect. Greek enterprises will soon begin manufacturing components, and by mid‑2029 (35 months from now), the system is expected to fully cover the country’s skies.
The question of how Ankara will respond to this move and whether it will affect the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean remains open.
