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Tal Inbar to Kathimerini: Force Multipliers for Air Defense
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Tal Inbar to Kathimerini: Force Multipliers for Air Defense

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources New plan
  • Israeli-born scientist Tal Inbar says Greece’s planned Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling systems incorporate operational lessons from recent conflicts in the Middle East and could strengthen its air-defense capabilities.
  • The systems will use artificial intelligence to support threat recognition and decision-making during mass missile and drone attacks, and will be designed to operate alongside existing Patriot and Hawk systems.
  • Greece expects delivery in summer 2029, with the systems integrated into the Achilles Shield and a broader networked air-defense architecture; Greek companies will receive 25% industrial participation in the €3.035 billion program.

The air-defense systems Greece is preparing to acquire could become “force multipliers” for the country’s defensive shield because they incorporate lessons drawn from recent combat in the Middle East, Israeli scientist Tal Inbar tells Kathimerini.

The operational experience that Israel and other countries have gained from recent conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah and the interception of Hamas rockets, as well as from all the other types of munitions used in operations in the Persian Gulf and other areas, is a force multiplier.

— Tal Inbar, Israeli-born scientist and researcher at the Missile Defense Advocacy AllianceInbar says battlefield experience from recent Middle East conflicts will enhance the value of Greece’s planned air-defense systems.

Inbar, an internationally recognized researcher with more than three decades of experience in missile-system development, points to operational experience from conflicts involving Iran and Hezbollah, the interception of Hamas rockets, and other munitions used in operations in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. “The operational experience that Israel and other countries have gained from recent conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah and the interception of Hamas rockets, as well as from all the other types of munitions used in operations in the Persian Gulf and other areas, is a force multiplier,” he says.

He adds that Greece will gain more than advanced equipment. “Greece will not simply acquire one of the best missile-defense systems in the world, but will benefit from operational experience. It has repeatedly proved its value in operations, so the exchange of operational experience and knowledge between Israel and Greece is another layer that will allow Greece to further strengthen its defense capabilities.”

Greece will not simply acquire one of the best missile-defense systems in the world, but will benefit from operational experience. It has repeatedly proved its value in operations, so the exchange of operational experience and knowledge between Israel and Greece is another layer that will allow Greece to further strengthen its defense capabilities.

— Tal Inbar, Israeli-born scientist and researcher at the Missile Defense Advocacy AllianceHe argues that cooperation and the transfer of operational knowledge will supplement the equipment Greece is buying.

Artificial intelligence will support the three systems expected to form the core of Greece’s air and ballistic-missile defense network. Inbar says AI will be particularly important during mass attacks involving missiles and drones, including saturation tactics. “Artificial intelligence is a very important element in recognizing the threat and in the decision-making process for neutralizing it,” he says. “Artificial intelligence is therefore one of the aspects of every modern and advanced weapons system, including air-defense systems.”

Artificial intelligence is a very important element in recognizing the threat and in the decision-making process for neutralizing it.

— Tal Inbar, Israeli-born scientist and researcher at the Missile Defense Advocacy AllianceInbar highlights AI’s role in identifying threats and supporting responses to missile and drone attacks.

Inbar also confirms that Spyder, Barak and David’s Sling were designed to connect with older systems such as Patriot. The systems are expected to arrive in Greece in summer 2029 and join a common command-and-control center with the other elements of the multilayered Achilles Shield. Under an agreement signed by Greece’s General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments and Israel’s SIBAT, Athens will receive access to the systems’ source code to support interoperability with Patriot and Hawk batteries, FDI frigates, fighter aircraft, early-warning systems and anti-drone networks. Greek companies will participate at a 25% level, worth about €750 million of the €3.035 billion program.

The systems were specifically designed to be interoperable with other types of missiles, radars, command centers and so on.

— Tal Inbar, Israeli-born scientist and researcher at the Missile Defense Advocacy AllianceHe says the new systems can be integrated with Greece’s existing air-defense infrastructure.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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