Greece signed a $3.5 billion deal Monday with Israel to develop a multilayered air defense array to counter threats ranging from ballistic missiles to drones.
The program, known in Greece as Achilles’ Shield, will be based entirely on Israeli-made products such as David’s Sling, a mid- to long-range air defense system designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles; and SPYDER, which provides an all-weather, 360-degree defense against aircraft, drones and precision-guided munitions.
“This is the largest defense export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in the history of the State of Israel,” Israeli officials said in a statement. “This marks the first time the [Israeli Ministry of Defense] will supply a complete defense array against a wide range of threats -— from ballistic missiles and aerial threats to hostile unmanned aerial vehicles.”
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Greece and Israel also signed a $30 million side deal for the sale of Rafael’s Drone Dome System to defend strategic sites against unmanned aerial vehicles and reinforce existing defenses.
“This project marks another milestone in defense cooperation between Israel and Greece, a key strategic partner in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Israeli officials said.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said modern conflicts have changed the parameters of military defense and deterrence. He said a rapid change in defense capabilities is necessary for national survival.
“Technology, ballistic missiles, satellite communications, unmanned aerial systems, cyber-threats, hybrid warfare and the linking of operational fields have long rendered the existing defense doctrines completely obsolete,” Mr. Dendias said in a statement after the deal was signed. “With this in mind, we are completely reforming the foundations of the armed forces, being absolutely aware of and understanding the dysfunctionalities of the past and our attachments to it.”
Monday’s agreement is the first time Israel will provide a complete array of defense weapons against a range of threats from ballistic missiles to drones.
According to the Associated Press, neither Greek nor Israeli officials referred to Turkey by name on Monday. But Mr. Dendias has repeatedly said that tension with Turkey is driving Greece’s arms spending program.
The AP also noted that for the first time, Israel surpassed the United Kingdom in its share of global arms exports, making it the world’s seventh-biggest supplier, according to a March report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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