Greece has approved the purchase of the multi-layer air defense system from Israel, named 'Achilles Shield', valued at up to €3.5 billion, according to reports. The system is expected to become operational within 35 months.
The Greek government has approved the purchase of the 'Achilles Shield' multi-layer air defense system from Israel, valued at up to €3.5 billion, with an expected operational capability within 35 months. The approval, reported Friday morning, confirms the system name and timeline that had been circulating in earlier reports, and follows the Greek parliament's formal approval of the deal on Thursday evening.
On Wednesday, July 22, a series of reports emerged detailing the expected procurement. By Wednesday afternoon, the Greek National Security Council had officially approved the deal, and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed the inclusion of Rafael's David's Sling and IAI's Barak systems. The system was named 'Achilles Shield' in those initial reports, with a 35-month timeline and a requirement for 25% local production. On Thursday evening, the Greek parliament formally approved the €3.5 billion agreement, as The Zioneer reported at 21:26 Jerusalem.
The deal deepens the Greece-Israel security axis amid Aegean tensions with Turkey. As The Zioneer reported on June 11, Greece had been advancing a major security procurement from Israel, including a plan to upgrade its drone fleet with armed strike capabilities. The 'Achilles Shield' system integrates Israeli radars and missile batteries from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, similar to the SPYDER air defense system that Romania agreed to purchase from Rafael in a €2 billion deal reported on June 28.
The exact value of the deal has been reported with variations — €3 billion, $4 billion, and €3.5 billion — but the government confirmation frames it at up to €3.5 billion. The 35-month operational timeline is an estimate, and the specific mix of systems (SPYDER, David's Sling, Barak) and the inclusion of drones and submarines, as reported in initial versions, have not been detailed in the final approval.
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