Israel, Greece to sign $3.6 billion air defence deal

Israel and Greece are expected to sign a deal worth about $3.6 billion (€3.1 billion) on August 31 to establish a multilayered air and missile defence network in Greece.

The project, known as “Achilles’ Shield”, will integrate Israeli systems including Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling with Greece’s existing Patriot systems and other capabilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The agreement is expected to be signed in Tel Aviv by procurement officials from Greece’s Defence Ministry and SIBAT, the International Defence Cooperation Directorate at Israel’s Defence Ministry. Implementation is expected to begin after the signing and take about 35 months.

Greece aims to create a single network linking sensors, command-and-control systems and interceptors so that the most appropriate defence system can be selected for each threat, ranging from drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to missiles and ballistic threats.

The network is expected to use an advanced command-and-control system incorporating artificial intelligence. It will collect data from radars, sensors and other detection systems, identify threats and help determine the appropriate response.

A key consideration is the growing use of relatively inexpensive drones. The system is designed to avoid using costly interceptors against every low-cost unmanned aircraft.

The project is also expected to involve about 12 Greek companies, with their participation valued at more than €700 million, or about 25% of the project. Athens hopes the deal will support the transfer of knowledge, develop domestic capabilities and strengthen Greece’s defence industry.

One issue in negotiations was Greek access to the source code of the software operating the network. Such access could give Greece greater independence in maintaining, modifying and upgrading the system.

The agreement would mark another significant step in defence cooperation between Israel and Greece as Athens seeks to strengthen its air defences against an evolving range of threats.

By Aghakazim Guliyev