Israel sells Greece an integrated air-defense system worth RM14 billion

Israel has signed a defense agreement worth about €3 billion, or RM14 billion, with Greece to develop the Achille Shield integrated air-defense system.

Israel’s Defense Ministry said the system would use Israeli-made technology and draw on operational experience gained during war. It described the deal as the largest defense export agreement in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in Israel’s history.

The agreement was signed in Tel Aviv by Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras. The deal follows a report from Greek Defense Ministry sources in late July that Athens planned to buy Israeli missile, aircraft and drone defense systems.

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This is the largest defense export agreement in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in Israel’s history.

Greece has allocated a broader €4.2 billion, or RM19.6 billion, investment to develop the Achilles Shield. Greek officials described the spending as part of the biggest reform of the country’s armed forces in its history.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said advances in military technology had made the existing defense doctrine outdated. “Greece is the first country in the European Union to adopt a layered air-defense system like the one made by Israel,” he said.

Israel said the export package would include David’s Sling, Barak MX and SPYDER interceptor systems, air-surveillance radar, and a new national command-and-control system.

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Greece is the first country in the European Union to adopt a layered air-defense system like the one made by Israel.