Key Points
- Israel and Greece signed their largest bilateral arms deal, centered on a multi-layered national air defense network.
- The architecture combines David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX, MMR radars and a unified command-and-control system.
- The agreement advances Greek military modernization while expanding Israeli defense exports and industrial cooperation in Europe.
The latest
Israel and Greece signed a landmark €3 billion defense agreement on Monday to build Greece’s “Achilles Shield,” an integrated system designed to counter ballistic missiles, aircraft and hostile drones. Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, signed the largest arms export agreement in the history of defense relations between the two countries.
Details
- Layered protection: The centerpiece is David’s Sling, developed by Israel’s Missile Defense Organization within the Defense Ministry’s research and development directorate, with Rafael as primary developer. Greece will also acquire Rafael’s SPYDER system and the BARAK MX platform manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries.
- Unified network: ELTA Systems, an IAI subsidiary, will provide MMR multi-mission radars to support the architecture. Rafael will develop a new national command-and-control system integrating the separate components into one network capable of responding simultaneously to threats across multiple ranges and categories.
- Drone defenses: A separate €26 million agreement covers Rafael’s Drone Dome systems. Greece plans to deploy them around strategic sites to strengthen its existing counter-drone capabilities and provide additional protection against hostile unmanned aircraft.
- European milestone: Greece will become the second European operator of David’s Sling, Rafael said. The acquisition reflects rising European interest in Israeli missile and air defense technologies, whose international appeal has been linked by Israeli officials to their performance during years of combat.
- Industrial partnership: The government-to-government program also provides for expanded industrial cooperation and transfers of knowledge and technology to Greek industry. The two defense ministries intend the arrangement to establish longer-term partnerships between Israeli and Greek companies beyond the delivery of military systems.
- Strategic impact: Defense Minister Israel Katz said both countries share strategic interests and regional challenges, pledging deeper defense cooperation to protect their security and common interests. Baram said major contracts also help Israel expand domestic production lines, build strategic inventories and increase national independence in ammunition production.
- Corporate roles: Rafael chief executive Yoav Tourgeman said the selection of David’s Sling, SPYDER and the company’s command technologies demonstrated international confidence in its systems and operational expertise. IAI chief executive Boaz Levy said the company’s growing Greek presence reflected the strength of bilateral ties; IAI will supply BARAK MX and MMR radars.
Background
The agreement deepens an increasingly close Israel-Greece security partnership in the Eastern Mediterranean. For Greece, it anchors its most ambitious air defense modernization effort in a decade; for Israel, it ranks among the country’s largest defense contracts and supports wider export growth.
What’s next
Rafael will develop the national command-and-control platform, while IAI and ELTA will supply BARAK MX systems and MMR radars. The government-to-government framework will also move ahead with technology and knowledge transfers to Greek industry.
