Israel signs €3 billion arms export deal with Greece, defence ministry says

[dani191]

Israel signs €3 billion arms export deal with Greece, defence ministry says​

Copyright AP Photo
By Ioannis Karagiorgas & Gavin Blackburn
Published on 31/08/2026 - 13:34 GMT+2
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In a statement, the Greek Defence Ministry said the multi-billion euro purchase was part of "the greatest reform of its armed forces in its history."​

Israel's defence ministry said on Monday it had signed a deal with Athens worth approximately €3 billion to set up the "Achilles Shield" aerial defence system for Greece.

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"Under the deal, Israel will build Greece a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence array, drawing entirely on Israeli-made systems and on the extensive operational experience Israel's defence establishment has gained during the war," the ministry said in a statement.

"This is the largest defence export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in the history of the State of Israel," it added.

The deal was signed by the Israeli defence ministry's director general, Major General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, in Tel Aviv.

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A Greek defence ministry source had told the AFP news agency in late July about an upcoming purchase of Israeli-made anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone systems, part of a broader defence investment for the Achilles Shield of €4.2 billion.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, right, and his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz speak in Athens, 20 January, 2026 AP Photo
In a statement, the Greek Defence Ministry said the multi-billion euro purchase was part of "the greatest reform of its armed forces in its history."

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias was quoted in the statement as saying that recent technological developments "have long rendered existing defence doctrines completely obsolete."

"Greece is the first country in the European Union to adopt" a multi-layered air defence system such as the Israeli one, he added.

According to the Israeli Defence Ministry, the export deal includes the David's Sling, Barak MX and SPYDER interception systems, air surveillance radars and "a new national command and control system".

Related

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• European leaders demand Israel halt controversial E1 settlement project in West Bank

All the equipment is manufactured by Israeli defence contractors Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiary ELTA Systems.


A supplementary €26 million deal was also signed to provide Greece with Rafael's defence systems against drones, the ministry said.

"Israel and Greece share common strategic interests and face shared regional challenges," said Defence Minister Israel Katz, quoted in the statement.

"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 defence and strategic cooperation," he said, in a likely reference to Turkey.

A SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) missile fired near Jaisalmer, 24 February, 2026 AP Photo
Greece is now one of only four European NATO members to spend at least 3% of GDP on its military, amid decades of tensions with neighbouring Turkey.

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Israel has also increasingly locked horns with Turkey, having struck a disused military base in northwest Syria, claiming it wanted to avert Turkish troops deploying to the facility.

In 2023, Israel signed a deal with Germany to provide the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile defence system, which was expanded in December for a total value of $6.5 billion (€5.6 billion), the country's largest-ever military export contract.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Israel signs €3 billion arms export deal with Greece, defence ministry says​

Copyright AP Photo
By Ioannis Karagiorgas & Gavin Blackburn
Published on 31/08/2026 - 13:34 GMT+2
ShareCommentsAdd Euronews on Google

In a statement, the Greek Defence Ministry said the multi-billion euro purchase was part of "the greatest reform of its armed forces in its history."​

Israel's defence ministry said on Monday it had signed a deal with Athens worth approximately €3 billion to set up the "Achilles Shield" aerial defence system for Greece.

ADVERTISEMENT


"Under the deal, Israel will build Greece a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence array, drawing entirely on Israeli-made systems and on the extensive operational experience Israel's defence establishment has gained during the war," the ministry said in a statement.

"This is the largest defence export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in the history of the State of Israel," it added.

The deal was signed by the Israeli defence ministry's director general, Major General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, in Tel Aviv.

00:00






02:00















Read More





A Greek defence ministry source had told the AFP news agency in late July about an upcoming purchase of Israeli-made anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone systems, part of a broader defence investment for the Achilles Shield of €4.2 billion.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, right, and his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz speak in Athens, 20 January, 2026 AP Photo
In a statement, the Greek Defence Ministry said the multi-billion euro purchase was part of "the greatest reform of its armed forces in its history."

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias was quoted in the statement as saying that recent technological developments "have long rendered existing defence doctrines completely obsolete."

"Greece is the first country in the European Union to adopt" a multi-layered air defence system such as the Israeli one, he added.

According to the Israeli Defence Ministry, the export deal includes the David's Sling, Barak MX and SPYDER interception systems, air surveillance radars and "a new national command and control system".

Related

• US criticises Israel over 'unnecessary escalation' after strikes on Syrian airbase
• European leaders demand Israel halt controversial E1 settlement project in West Bank

All the equipment is manufactured by Israeli defence contractors Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiary ELTA Systems.


A supplementary €26 million deal was also signed to provide Greece with Rafael's defence systems against drones, the ministry said.

"Israel and Greece share common strategic interests and face shared regional challenges," said Defence Minister Israel Katz, quoted in the statement.

"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 defence and strategic cooperation," he said, in a likely reference to Turkey.

A SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) missile fired near Jaisalmer, 24 February, 2026 AP Photo
Greece is now one of only four European NATO members to spend at least 3% of GDP on its military, amid decades of tensions with neighbouring Turkey.

ADVERTISEMENT


Israel has also increasingly locked horns with Turkey, having struck a disused military base in northwest Syria, claiming it wanted to avert Turkish troops deploying to the facility.

In 2023, Israel signed a deal with Germany to provide the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile defence system, which was expanded in December for a total value of $6.5 billion (€5.6 billion), the country's largest-ever military export contract.

This might become quite a headache for Turkey.

 

[Yasser76]

Why would you give the name "Achilles Heel" to any defence system!?

 

[Foinikas]

Ι've already posted about this at the Turkey-Greece Maritime Dispute thread,but nobody batted an eye I guess.

Why would you give the name "Achilles Heel" to any defence system!?

Achilles' Shield. Some "brains" came up with the idea based on the Achilles' Shield which had 5 circles inside or "levels",depicting different scenes. The MoD being a true politician wouldn't stop talking about how it's about anti-aircraft,anti-drone,anti-ballistic,anti-ship
and anti-submarine protection.

It's an idiotic name,because everyone's mind goes to Achille's Heel. That's why it's been criticized as a decision by the majority of greek defence nerds.

 

[Musings]

Greece - probably 1 of a few countries that will entertain anything with Israels imprint on it.

 

[Michael]

Israel's air defense system is insufficient even for its own needs. Even if it were to begin full-speed production now, it would take many years to meet its own requirements. So, how will they deliver the systems to Greece?

 

[Yasser76]

Greece - probably 1 of a few countries that will entertain anything with Israels imprint on it.

Credit to them, money permitting, they have been consistent on procurement, systems and training for their air force.

Always kept a dual US/French line of fighters and weapons for last 40-50 years

Mirage F1 to Mirage 2000 to Rafale
F-4 to F-16 to F-35

Over the long run that has helped them with economics,, systems, training, logistics and of course direct relationships with both the French and US, when one was causing issues they could lean on the other.

Turks went all in with the US, F-4s and F-16s and F-35s and look at the headaches

 

[Foinikas]

Greece - probably 1 of a few countries that will entertain anything with Israels imprint on it.

Well apparently,the other offers by USA and EU countries were 3 times costier. If Israelis can deliver quality products in 1/3 of the price,then...

Besides,our air defence needed an upgrade since at least 2018. After 2023,it was evident the replacement of most AA systems was imperative. For two reasons:

1.New developments in warfare
2.The severed ties with Russia made it impossible to keep Soviet/Russian systems. The OSA AKM were already obsolete,the Tor-M1 and S-300PMU1 would end up with no spare parts,expired missiles and no way to upgrade them properly.

Generally,Greece has a largen number or AA systems that need replacement or upgrade.






The "Achilles Shield" agreement includes:

• The David’s Sling system, the development of which is led by the “Homa” Directorate of MAFAT at the Ministry of Defense, with Rafael as the main manufacturer.
• The BARAK MX system, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
• The SPYDER AiO system, manufactured by Rafael.
• Multifunctional MMR-type radars for air control, manufactured by ELTA of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
• A new national command and control system, which will bring together all air defense capabilities under this umbrella and will be developed under the leadership of Rafael.

Furthermore, within the framework of the meeting, another supplementary agreement was signed, amounting to 26 million euros (approximately 92 million shekels), for the sale of Rafael's DRONE DOME systems for protection against UAVs and drones at strategic locations and for strengthening existing defenses.

 

[WARSIDT]

I don’t think it will have much of an effect on Türkiye. If Greece feels safer that way, its make sense for them.

But Greece now needs to start producing its own weapons, ammunition, or at least contribute something to the systems it buys. Greece spending billions of euros and all that money is going abroad. If they invested even a small part of that huge arms procurement budget into their own defense industry they could manufacture in many areas. These dont even have to be expensive systems with long R&D cycles like radars, avionics, manned aircraft and helicopters or the costly systems used in land and naval platforms. They could simply produce the things the army buys the most and will continue to buy the most. In the defense industry. In my opinion they shouldn’t be that far behind Israel, the country they buy these weapons from. They could get support from so many countries, yet they dont.

If it wants to compete with Türkiye it has to produce. While even by producing it would be hard to catch up the mindset of buying weapons and competing against Türkiye only harms Greece. And it already is.

 

[Musings]

Israel's air defense system is insufficient even for its own needs. Even if it were to begin full-speed production now, it would take many years to meet its own requirements. So, how will they deliver the systems to Greece?

Look at the latest conflict with Iran. The Iranians got through this impregnable defenses system at will. Imagine if Iran took the gloves off thet would have been shafted. Now the Greeks want a bit of what they have? Crazy.
Then look at the name?? Achilles shield?

 

[Foinikas]

Look at the latest conflict with Iran. The Iranians got through this impregnable defenses system at will. Imagine if Iran took the gloves off thet would have been shafted. Now the Greeks want a bit of what they have? Crazy.
Then look at the name?? Achilles shield?

Then what are you saying,we should leave the country without Air Defence?

 

[Musings]

Then what are you saying,we should leave the country without Air Defence?

So your country had only this option? Did your boys sit down and think yep its gonna have to be Israeli coz they have shown us a great advert of their capabilities? Then lets call it Achilles shield for good measure. Who makes these cracking decisions bro?

 

[Foinikas]

So your country had only this option? Did your boys sit down and think yep its gonna have to be Israeli coz they have shown us a great advert of their capabilities? Then lets call it Achilles shield for good measure. Who makes these cracking decisions bro?

I explained both of these in my posts on earlier,one of them was a reply to your post as well. Maybe you missed them,check them out

 

[Flotilla]

Israel's air defense system is insufficient even for its own needs. Even if it were to begin full-speed production now, it would take many years to meet its own requirements. So, how will they deliver the systems to Greece?

Agreed. It performed not that well during the war against Irán, how the hell can works better with degraded versions in a much larger country like Greece?.
Good luck with the new stuff.

 

[Foinikas]

Agreed. It performed not that well during the war against Irán, how the hell can works better with degraded versions in a much larger country like Greece?.
Good luck with the new stuff.

Who said:

1.It performed "not that well"
2.Greece is getting "downgraded" versions?

You guys are so desperately trying to talk trash about anything yahoodi at all. I mean,it reaches a point where it's simple bias.