Greece to buy $4 billion air defense system from Israel

ATHENS — Greece has approved the purchase of a multi-layer air defense system worth up to €3.5 billion ($4 billion) from Israel, several types of drones and Embraer’s C-390 military transport aircraft, its defense minister said on Thursday.

The country’s security council, KYSEA, gave its initial approval earlier this year and approved the procurement contracts on Thursday, Nikos Dendias told journalists.

Greece wants to build a multi-layer anti-ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, called “Achilles Shield,” with Israeli radars and missiles from Rafael and IAI defense companies forming the core of the system.

“It will be ready and fully operational within 35 months, starting from today,” said Nikos Dendias, adding that companies in Greece will produce at least 25% of the system.

Greece, which currently uses U.S. Patriot and old Russian S-300 systems to protect its airspace, plans to spend about €28 billion by 2036 to modernize its armed forces.

This includes buying up to 40 new F-35 fighter jets from the United States and frigates from France and Italy.

Dendias said that KYSEA had also approved the purchase of three C-390 military transport aircraft, 10 British-built VICTA mini-submarines for special operations, U.S. V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Heron UAVs from Israel.

Greece spends nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defense, a higher proportion than many fellow NATO countries, due to its long-standing dispute with Turkey.

With strong economic and diplomatic ties, Greece and Israel operate an air training centre on Greek territory, hold joint military annual drills and cooperate on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity.

Last year, Athens bought 36 Israeli-made rocket artillery systems for about €650 million.

雅典——希腊国防部长周四表示，希腊已批准从以色列购买价值高达 35 亿欧元（40 亿美元）的多层防空系统、几种类型的无人机以及巴西航空工业公司的 C-390 军用运输机。

尼科斯·登迪亚斯告诉记者，该国安全委员会（KYSEA）今年早些时候已给予初步批准，并于周四批准了采购合同。

希腊希望建造一套名为“阿喀琉斯之盾”的多层反弹道导弹、防空导弹和反无人机系统，该系统的核心是以色列拉斐尔和以色列航空工业公司（IAI）的雷达和导弹。

尼科斯·登迪亚斯表示：“从今天开始，该系统将在 35 个月内准备就绪并全面投入运营。”他还补充说，希腊的公司将生产该系统至少 25% 的部件。

希腊目前使用美国“爱国者”导弹系统和老旧的俄罗斯S-300导弹系统来保护其领空，计划到2036年花费约280亿欧元来实现其武装部队的现代化。

这包括从美国购买多达 40 架新的 F-35 战斗机，以及从法国和意大利购买护卫舰。

Dendias表示，KYSEA还批准购买三架C-390军用运输机、10艘英国制造的VICTA迷你潜艇用于特种作战、美国V-BAT无人机和以色列的苍鹭无人机。

由于与土耳其长期存在争端，希腊将国内生产总值的近 3.5% 用于国防，这一比例高于许多北约成员国。

希腊和以色列拥有牢固的经济和外交关系，两国在希腊境内设有空军训练中心，每年举行联合军事演习，并在反无人机系统和网络安全方面开展合作。

去年，雅典斥资约 6.5 亿欧元购买了 36 套以色列制造的火箭炮系统。