Greece’s air defence dome set for completion by summer 2026

Greece aims to complete the construction of an advanced air defence dome by the summer of 2026, with a tender set to be held for the purchase of missiles and other critical equipment from France, Israel, the UK, and the US.

The announcement by Greek media follows a briefing by National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, accompanied by General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of the General Staff of National Defence, to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Caliber.Az reports.

The meeting focused on enhancing Greece's defence capabilities through the development of an anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile defence system, known as the "air defence dome."

The Greek government outlined a comprehensive three-phase plan for the air defence project. The first phase involves restructuring the country's armed forces, including the establishment of a new Inter-Service Air Defence Command. This command will oversee the operational functioning of the air defence dome, with personnel drawn from the army, navy, and air force. It will report directly to the General Staff of National Defence.

In the second phase, the Greek military will assess proposals from international defence contractors, including companies from France, Israel, the UK, and the US. These proposals will cover various components of the air defence dome, such as missile systems, radars, sensors, and other technologies. This phase is expected to conclude by mid-2025.

The third and final phase will see the installation of the air defence systems, beginning in strategically critical areas. These include the Evros region near the Greek-Turkish border and islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. Other key locations around Greece’s critical infrastructure will also be prioritized. The system is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2026.

In addition to the air defence dome, Greece plans to bolster its air force with a new fleet of advanced fighter jets, including F-16 Viper, Rafale, and F-35 aircraft. In October 2024, Dendias stated that the country would significantly enhance its air combat capabilities alongside the creation of the air defence system. Details of the air defence dome project are expected to be presented to the Greek parliament in the near future.

By Tamilla Hasanova