Greece is moving to secure approval for a major air defense agreement with Israel, with the government seeking the green light for a €3 billion purchase of Israeli-made systems under a planned “Achilles Shield” defense umbrella.
The program includes Rafael’s Spyder All-in-One and David’s Sling systems, as well as the Barak MX system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), according to Greek defense sources.
The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), Greece’s top national security body, could approve the agreement as early as next week, allowing the two countries to proceed with a government-to-government contract, according to reports.
If approved, Greece’s General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) and Israel’s SIBAT defense cooperation agency are expected to sign the agreement covering the acquisition of the three air defense systems, along with command, control and support infrastructure.
Officials said key obstacles in the negotiations have been resolved, including legal issues and Greece’s requirement that at least 25% of the program involve domestic defense industry participation.
