Greece is set to approve one of its largest defense procurement packages in decades, with the government's KYSEA council...

Greece is set to approve one of its largest defense procurement packages in decades, with the government's KYSEA council meeting Thursday to greenlight a program worth close to or exceeding 5 billion euros. At the center of the package is the so-called "Achilles Shield," a 3 billion euro multi-layered air defense and anti-ballistic missile system built around Israeli technology. The system will replace Greece's aging Soviet-era and older Western platforms with an integrated architecture spanning short, medium, and long-range threats. The backbone of the new system is the Barak MX missile platform from Israel Aerospace Industries, covering ranges from 35 to 150 kilometers and replacing the aging HAWK systems. It will be paired with Rafael's Spyder for short and medium-range defense, and David's Sling for long-range ballistic missile interception, which is set to replace the Russian-made S-300. Greece's domestically developed Centaur anti-drone system will also be folded into the network. Advanced EL/M-2084 radar systems from ELTA will provide surveillance coverage, capable of tracking up to 1,200 targets simultaneously at ranges of up to 475 kilometers. Existing Patriot batteries, the incoming FDI Belharra frigates, and future F-35 jets will all be integrated into the wider defense network. The formal signing ceremony in Athens is expected in early August, with Israeli defense officials from SHIBAT and MAFAT confirmed to attend. Beyond the air defense component, KYSEA is expected to approve three C-390 Millennium strategic transport aircraft for 600 million euros, with delivery beginning in 2027. Greece will also acquire 20 V-BAT drones from US firm Shield AI for Aegean surveillance, two Israeli Heron UAVs capable of strike missions, and 10 VICTA hybrid underwater vehicles worth 145 million euros. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias have pushed for Greek industry to cover more than 25 percent of the program's value, with domestic firms contributing to missile production, command systems, and ammunition. The package signals a fundamental shift in Greek defense doctrine toward a network-centric model, tying together air, se...