Israel and Greece sign €3 billion strategic air defense agreement

Israel and Greece signed a €3 billion ($US 3.48 billion) agreement on Monday for Israel to build an integrated air and missile defense system for Greece, based on technologies Israel has used to defend itself against missile and drone attacks in recent conflicts.

The project is expected to take 35 months to complete. Under a separate €26 million agreement, Israel will also supply Greece with Iron Dome systems designed to defend against drones.

The deals represent a major step in Greece’s planned “Achilles Shield” air and missile defense network, which will integrate existing systems, including U.S.-built Patriot batteries, with Israeli systems such as Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling.

The network will use advanced radars, sensors, command-and-control systems and interceptors designed to communicate in real time to detect and counter incoming threats.

Several Greek companies will contribute components to the systems, accounting for roughly 25% of the overall project.

The companies will also receive technology and expertise from their Israeli counterparts, while Israel will gain an expanded supply chain that could facilitate future sales to Greece and other NATO partners.

The Israel Ministry of Defense Spokesperson's Statement declared that “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.”

The ministry said the agreement reflects its strategy of expanding defense exports while strengthening Israel’s defense industry and economy.

Minister of Defense Israel Katz said, “Israel and Greece share common strategic interests and face shared regional challenges. At a time when actors with hegemonic ambitions are seeking to expand their influence and undermine stability in the region, Israel and Greece will continue to deepen their defense and strategic cooperation, and will act with determination to preserve stability and safeguard their security and shared interests.”

Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, said the deal was “a strategic milestone in Israel's defense relationship with Greece,” adding that government-to-government agreements of this scale “drive the expansion of Israel's production lines, build up stockpiles, and strengthen the country's munitions independence.”

Rafael Chairman Prof. Yuval Steinitz said, "Greece is the second European country to acquire the David's Sling system, the most advanced of its kind in the world."

"The choice of Rafael systems reflects deep trust in its capabilities, its innovation, and its ability to contribute to the security of countries facing complex security challenges," he added.

Israel Aerospace Industries Chairman Boaz Levy said, “IAI’s operational air defense systems proved their capabilities in the recent fighting against Iran and its proxies, successfully intercepting a range of threats, chief among them exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles.”

“We are proud to take part in the important ‘Achilles Shield’ project, and will continue to be key partners in additional projects in Greece and around the world, as we develop and build the next generation of defense technologies,” Levy added.