- The Achilles Shield system is designed to knock down ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones
- Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said it would be fully operational within 35 months
- The purchase is part of a broader $31.89 billion plan to modernize the Greek armed forces through 2036
Greece has committed to a multi-layer air defense system built in Israel, with a cost that could reach about $4 billion, according to a Reuters report posted by Defense News. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said the country’s national security council, KYSEA, approved the procurement contracts on Thursday. KYSEA had given the deal preliminary approval earlier in 2026.
What Is in Greece’s Achilles Shield Air Defense System?
The system, named Achilles Shield, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. Its backbone will be Israeli radars and missiles supplied by defense firms Rafael and IAI. Dendias said the system would be fully operational within 35 months and that Greek companies would manufacture at least 25 percent of it.
What Else Did Greece Approve in Its Modernization Push?
The air defense purchase is one part of a broader plan to spend about $31.89 billion through 2036 on upgrading the Greek armed forces. That effort includes up to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the United States, along with frigates ordered from France and Italy.
KYSEA cleared several other acquisitions. Those cover three Embraer C-390 military transport aircraft, 10 VICTA British-developed mini-submarines, U.S.-made V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles and Heron drones from Israel.
Greece currently relies on American Patriot batteries and aging Russian S-300s to guard its airspace. It devotes close to 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product to defense, a level Reuters tied to its long-running dispute with Turkey.
