Greece signs $3.5bn missile and air-defence deal with Israel
Greece has signed a $3.5bn air-defence agreement with Israel in Tel Aviv, in what is described as the largest defence deal ever between the two countries. The package centres on a multi-layered system known in Greece as Achilles Shield and is intended to strengthen Athens' air-defence network. The agreement comes as Greece faces growing concern about regional security and its rivalry with Turkiye.
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The deal was signed on Monday, according to the supplied report, and includes several components beyond the core missile shield. These include multi-mission radars for air surveillance and an artificial intelligence-enabled command centre that will integrate the technologies. A supplementary agreement worth 26 million euros is also set to provide Greece with drone dome systems.
The system is expected to be delivered in stages and is scheduled to reach full operational readiness within 35 months. The broader procurement is part of Greece's military modernisation plans through 2030, under which Athens intends to spend about 28 billion euros by 2036. That wider programme also includes plans to buy up to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the United States and frigates from France and Italy.
The agreement is significant because it deepens defence cooperation between Greece and Israel at a time of heightened regional tension. The supplied report says analysts link Athens' concerns to the US-Israel war on Iran and to Turkiye's growing capabilities. It also notes that Greece hosts American naval bases, which some analysts say could become a potential target in a future conflict involving Iran.
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Greece and Israel already have long-standing economic and diplomatic ties, and they have regularly held joint military exercises. The new contract builds on that relationship while also highlighting the extent to which European states are reassessing air and missile defence. The report says the purchase reflects a broader effort by Greece to improve its ability to respond to evolving threats in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
What remains unclear from the supplied material is how the new systems will be deployed across Greece and which sites will be prioritised first. It is also not specified when the first deliveries will begin, beyond the overall 35-month timetable for full readiness. Further details may emerge on the operational structure of Achilles Shield and on how the supplementary drone systems will be integrated.
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