Greece Signs €3.1 Billion ‘Achilles Shield’ Air‑Defense Deal With Israel
Israel and Greece have signed a €3.1 billion government‑to‑government agreement in Tel Aviv to build a nationwide ‘Achilles Shield’ air, missile, and drone defense network using Israeli systems. Israeli leaders describe it as one of the largest security deals in the state’s history.
Greece has agreed a multibillion‑euro air‑defense package with Israel that will place Israeli systems at the heart of a new nationwide shield against missiles, aircraft, and drones.
The €3.1 billion government‑to‑government contract, signed in Tel Aviv, covers a country‑wide, multi‑layered network known as Achilles Shield. It will integrate several Israeli systems: Rafael’s David’s Sling, designed to intercept medium‑ to long‑range missiles; SPYDER systems for engaging aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles at shorter ranges; and Israel Aerospace Industries’ BARAK MX air‑ and missile‑defense platform. A common command‑and‑control architecture will tie these layers together.
Israeli officials describe Achilles Shield as the first time these systems have been deployed together on a national scale in a European state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the agreement one of the largest security deals in Israel’s history and said it builds on the Eastern Mediterranean cooperation Israel has developed with Greece and Cyprus over the past decade.
For Greece, the project promises a more comprehensive picture of its airspace and better protection for its mainland and islands at a time of growing concern over missiles and drones. For Israeli industry, it represents years of work and a significant foothold in a European defense market.
The deal comes as Sweden signs a separate $4 billion contract for four large frigates from France’s Naval Group, part of a wider regional shift toward heavier investment in air and maritime defense.
Next steps to watch include detailed timelines for deployment of the Israeli systems in Greece, any announced role for Greek industry in the program, and whether other European governments signal interest in similar integrated packages.
Sources
- OSINT