Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed Thursday that Greece will purchase an air defense system from Israel worth approximately €3.5 billion, to be named 'Achilles Shield'. The system, centered on Israeli-made radars and batteries from Rafael and IAI, is expected to be fully operational within three years, according to the Greek defense minister.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed Thursday that Greece will purchase a multi-layered air defense system from Israel worth approximately €3.5 billion, to be named 'Achilles Shield'. The system, built around Rafael and IAI components, is expected to be fully operational within three years, according to the Greek defense minister. This confirmation follows the formal approval of the deal by Greece on Wednesday.
The Zioneer reported on Wednesday, July 22, that Greece's Supreme National Security Council had approved the deal, initially reported at €3 billion and later as $4 billion. Throughout the day, reports evolved from unnamed sources citing Greek media and N12, to a Reuters report confirming the council's approval, and then to Defense Minister Nikos Dendias's confirmation that the deal included David's Sling and Barak systems. By Wednesday evening, the formal approval with a 25% local production mandate was reported by Or Ben Yekhzekel. Today's announcement by the foreign minister adds the official name 'Achilles Shield', the exact euro value, and a three-year timeline, and specifies Rafael and IAI as key providers.
As The Zioneer reported on June 11, Greece has been advancing a major defense procurement from Israel, including armed drone capability upgrades. The Achilles Shield is part of a broader multi-billion-dollar modernization program aimed at maintaining deterrence against Turkey, which also includes F-35s, warships, and submarines. The deal also comes amid regional competition, with Turkey allocating billions for its own domestic 'Steel Dome' air defense system, as The Zioneer reported on July 8.
It remains unclear whether the total value of the deal is €3.5 billion or equivalent to the $4 billion figure previously cited, and the specific composition of the systems—beyond the involvement of Rafael and IAI—has not been detailed.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake