Greece signs $3.5bn air defence deal with Israel

Greece has signed a $3.5bn defence agreement with Israel to acquire its first integrated multi-layered air defence network. The deal was announced on Monday and is expected to be completed by 2029. It will bring together several Israeli systems in a single shield designed to strengthen Greece's protection against a range of aerial threats.

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According to the information provided, the agreement was negotiated over three years and is described by Israel as one of the largest in its history. The network will include the SPYDER system, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the BARAK MX system, made by Israel Aerospace Industries, and David's Sling air defence technology. Greece's Defence Minister, Nikos Dendias, said modern conflicts had changed the parameters of military defence and deterrence.

The systems are intended to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, large drones and, in the case of BARAK, incoming ballistic missiles as well. Greece also signed a separate $30m deal with Israel for Rafael's Drone Dome system to defend strategic sites against unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. The package suggests a broader effort to reinforce existing defences and protect key infrastructure.

The agreement comes at a time when Israeli weapons exports are reported to be rising sharply, with official data cited in the source putting them at more than $19bn last year, a 30% increase from 2024. It also reflects how European states are reassessing air defence after the war in Ukraine, which has highlighted the importance of intercepting missiles, drones and other airborne threats. For Greece, the deal appears to be part of a wider effort to adapt to what its defence minister described as the realities of hybrid warfare, cyber threats and the interconnection of different operational domains.

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The source says Greece is the second European Union member to agree to buy David's Sling, after Finland. It also notes that the systems are being viewed as relevant to threats coming from the east, although no further operational details were provided. The deal adds to Israel's growing defence export profile and deepens military-industrial ties between the two countries.

What remains unclear is the full financing structure, the delivery timetable for each system and how the network will be integrated into Greece's existing air defence architecture. It is also not clear which sites will be prioritised first or how quickly crews will be trained. The key point to watch is whether the project stays on schedule toward the 2029 target and whether further related contracts follow.

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