Greece to Purchase €3.5 Billion Israeli Air Defense System

Greece is set to purchase an air defense system from Israel worth 3.5 billion euros (approx. 5.9 trillion won), Reuters reported on the 23rd (local time), citing local sources.

According to foreign media, the Governmental Council for National Security (KYSEA) of Greece is expected to grant final approval for the air defense system plan, which includes an Israeli multi-layered air defense network.

Multiple officials told Reuters that KYSEA had given preliminary approval for the plan earlier this year.

Greece is building a multi-layered ballistic missile and drone defense system dubbed the "Achilles Shield."

The core of this system is reportedly comprised of radars and missiles manufactured by Israeli defense companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Greece currently defends its airspace using U.S.-made Patriot systems and older Russian-made S-300 air defense systems.

Greece maintains close military and diplomatic ties with Israel, jointly operating an air force training center and conducting annual joint military exercises.

Last year, it purchased Israeli multi-launch rocket systems worth approximately 650 million euros (approx. 1 trillion won).

The Greek government plans to invest 28 billion euros (approx. 48 trillion won) by 2036 to modernize its military.

This includes plans to acquire up to 40 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and French and Italian frigates.

To keep in check Turkey, with which it has a historically adversarial relationship, Greece spends about 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, exceeding the average of NATO member states.

According to a NATO report, the average defense spending by NATO's 32 member countries last year was 2.8 percent of GDP.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.