Israel and Greece have signed an approximately €3 billion agreement for Israel to construct Greece’s new Achilles Shield, a comprehensive multi-layered air-defense network built around Israeli technology. The package includes David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX, MMR multi-mission radars and an integrated national command-and-control system capable of coordinating defenses against ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. A separate €26 million agreement adds Drone Dome counter-drone systems for strategic locations. The landmark arrangement, the largest defense export deal ever concluded between Israel and Greece, substantially deepens their strategic partnership while giving Athens combat-tested capabilities developed through Israel’s recent conflicts. The agreement also provides for technology and knowledge transfers to Greek industry, strengthening the long-term defense relationship while expanding Israel’s increasingly important role as a supplier of advanced missile and air-defense technology.
Key Takeaways
- The approximately €3 billion Achilles Shield agreement is the largest Israeli-Greek defense export deal ever and one of the largest defense agreements in Israel’s history.
- Greece will receive an integrated defense network incorporating David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX, MMR radars and a national command-and-control system, supplemented by a €26 million purchase of Drone Dome counter-UAV systems.
- The agreement goes beyond weapons sales by providing technology and knowledge transfers to Greek industry, while strengthening a strategic partnership shaped by mounting missile, drone and regional security threats.
In-Depth
Israel and Greece have formalized an approximately €3 billion defense agreement that will give Athens a comprehensive, Israeli-built air-defense architecture known as Achilles Shield. The agreement is the largest defense export arrangement between the two countries and one of Israel’s largest weapons deals, underscoring how rapidly strategic cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean has expanded.
The system will combine David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX and MMR multi-mission radars with a national command-and-control network designed to coordinate defenses against ballistic missiles, aircraft and unmanned aerial threats. A separate €26 million agreement covers Drone Dome counter-UAV systems intended to protect strategic sites. The package also calls for technology and knowledge transfers to Greek industry, extending the relationship beyond a straightforward weapons purchase.
For Greece, the acquisition represents a major component of a broader military modernization effort driven by changing warfare and persistent regional security concerns. Athens plans tens of billions of euros in defense investments through 2036, including advanced aircraft and naval capabilities. The Israeli systems offer Greece equipment with extensive operational experience against missiles and drones, an increasingly important consideration as European governments reassess air-defense vulnerabilities.
For Israel, the agreement carries strategic and economic significance. Large government-to-government exports strengthen domestic production capacity, support defense-industrial employment and deepen relationships with strategically positioned partners. The agreement also reinforces Israel’s growing position in the international defense market. At a time of mounting missile, drone and regional threats, the deal demonstrates that combat-proven Israeli air-defense technology has become an increasingly consequential export and diplomatic asset globally.
Sources
- https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/israel-signs-35-billion-air-defence-deal-with-greece-2026-08-31/
- https://apnews.com/article/israel-greece-weapons-deal-5bcedf73e5b5f6f5e3653405abdc70b9
- https://www.mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/israel-and-greece-have-signed-the-massive-achilles-shield-agreement
- https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1313814/greece-signs-3-billion-euro-defense-deal-with-israel/