The future of the Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA) and the possible return of the Patriot battery deployed in the Yanbu area are expected to be decided at the next Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) meeting.
According to reports, the Ministry of National Defense is weighing two options regarding personnel and equipment from the Air Force’s 350th Guided Missile Wing: a one-month extension, with the issue reconsidered in October, or a decision to withdraw the Patriot system from Saudi Arabia after five years. For now, Air Force personnel are preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to replace their colleagues at the end of September.
The deployment has provided significant operational benefits to the Greek Armed Forces. However, uncertainty remains over the details of agreements between Athens and Riyadh under the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) concept, particularly regarding the maintenance and modernization of Greece’s Patriot systems.
As reported by Kathimerini in January, Greece and Saudi Arabia were in advanced talks to upgrade all six of the Air Force’s long-range mobile Patriot batteries, at an estimated Saudi-funded cost of around $350 million at 2021 prices. The talks were subsequently frozen following the outbreak of war on February 28, as demand for air-defense systems and ammunition surged.
