Greece set to sign €3bn Achilles Shield air defence agreements in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Israel. Greece is expected to sign agreements on Monday for its €3 billion integrated, multi-layered air and missile defence system, known as the Achilles Shield.

The agreements are scheduled to be signed on August 31 by the Greek defence ministry’s General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments and Israel’s International Defence Cooperation Directorate, alongside relevant Israeli defence bodies and companies involved in the programme.

Integrated defence network

The Achilles Shield is intended to establish an integrated network capable of countering ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. Israeli-made radars and missile systems are expected to form the core of the architecture.

Greece’s Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence approved the programme on July 23.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said after the approval that spending on the air defence systems would exceed €3 billion. He said the system would become fully operational within 35 months and would be delivered progressively rather than entering service in a single phase.

Israeli systems and Greek production

Previous reports identified Rafael’s Spyder and David’s Sling systems, as well as Israel Aerospace Industries’ Barak MX, as components of the planned multi-layered network.

At least 25 per cent of the programme is expected to involve production by Greek companies.

Cyprus cooperation

Cyprus has been strengthening its air defences with Israeli systems, while defence cooperation with Greece has become increasingly visible.

During the regional crisis in March, Athens deployed F-16 fighter jets and two frigates to Cyprus, including one equipped with the Greek-made Kentavros anti-drone system, to bolster the island’s defences.

Cyprus already operates Israel’s Barak MX system and has approved the acquisition of four Greek-made Kentavros counter-drone systems.

Hellenic Aerospace Industry has integrated Kentavros with Barak MX into a multi-layered architecture. Its chief, Alexandros Diakopoulos, described the arrangement in an April interview with the Cyprus Mail as a “Shield of Achilles”, saying the company regarded the security of Greece and Cyprus as part of an “indivisible strategic space”.

HAI is also working with Cypriot defence companies and has identified Cyprus as a potential regional support and maintenance hub.