Achilles Shield: Greece announces major overhaul of Aegean defence

Greece has unveiled a major shift in its military strategy in the Aegean Sea, introducing a new air and missile defence initiative called Achilles Shield, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced.

The plan aims to protect Greek airspace and territory from what Athens describes as the growing threat posed by Türkiye’s expanding drone capabilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Speaking at a public panel, Dendias said the country would abandon its traditional doctrine of separate land, sea and air responsibilities. “The old model, where the army protects land, the navy the sea, and the air force the skies, is no longer realistic,” he explained.

Under the new strategy, Greece will implement an area denial approach, deploying mobile missile batteries across hundreds of islands in the Aegean. “The sea will be secured from land, allowing our navy to operate freely in the Eastern Mediterranean instead of being confined to narrow waters,” Dendias said.

In the air, the Achilles Shield will rely on ground-based missile and radar systems, providing a more cost-effective defence than conventional fighter aircraft. Referring to the conflict in Ukraine, Dendias noted that even countries with air superiority can struggle to operate if modern air defence systems are deployed.

He also claimed that Türkiye possesses over one million drones, a figure that has not been independently verified. The announcement underscores escalating tensions in the region, where disputes over maritime boundaries and territorial claims have long persisted.

By Aghakazim Guliyev