In the largest ever defence export deal in the history of Israeli-Greek relations, Greece has contracted Israel to furnish it with a comprehensive air defence network as part of its wider Agenda 2030 armed forces reforms.
Greece signs EUR 3 billion deal with Israel to acquire Achilles Shield air defence network
The Achilles Shield agreement was signed on 31 August 2026 by Major General (Res) Amir Baram (left), the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and his Greek counterpart, Major General Ioannis Bouras, in a ceremony at the IMOD's headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Greece has contracted Israel to build it a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence network, drawing entirely on Israeli-made systems and the Israel Defense Forces’ extensive experience in operating them.
The Achilles Shield agreement, as it is known, is worth around EUR 3 billion and constitutes the largest defence export deal in the history of Israeli-Greek relations – and one of the largest in Israeli history more generally. It was signed on 31 August 2026 by Major General (Res) Amir Baram, the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, in a ceremony at the IMOD’s headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The deal also marks the first time the IMOD will export a complete defence network designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats, from hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) all the way to ballistic missiles.
Greece’s security council, KYSEA, gave its initial approval to the Achilles Shield agreement earlier this year and approved the specific procurement contracts on 23 July.
Achilles Shield components
Specifically, the Achilles Shield deal will include the following systems:
- The David’s Sling medium- to long-range (upper tier) air defence system, developed by the Israeli Missile Defense Organization within the IMOD’s Directorate of Defense Research & Development, with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as prime developer;
- The Barak MX integrated air and missile defence system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI);
- The Spyder air defence system manufactured by Rafael, which was formerly a short- to medium-range system but now has a long-range/counter-ballistic missile capability;
- MMR multi-mission air surveillance radars manufactured by IAI subsidiary ELTA Systems;
- A new national command-and-control system, to be developed by Rafael, that will consolidate the full range of air defence capabilities provided.
These Israeli systems will replace/supplement Greece’s current air defence systems, which include US-supplied M901 Patriot PAC-2 and Russian S-300PMU1 systems at the higher level, some older US MIM-23B Improved HAWK systems at the medium level and a number of short-range systems, including the Russian 9K331 Tor-M1 and 9K33 Osa-M systems, US/Swiss Skyguard-Sparrow systems, French Crotale systems and US FIM-92 Stinger systems, along with various anti-aircraft guns.
Additional accords
In addition to the Achilles Shield agreement, a supplementary deal valued at EUR 26 million was signed during the meeting in Tel Aviv for the sale of Rafael Drone Dome systems to defend strategic Greek sites from UAVs and reinforce their existing defences.
Furthermore, as part of ongoing IMOD dialogue with the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence (MND), and as part of the government-to-government activity between the two ministries, Israel will expand defence-industrial co-operation with Greece, including the transfer of knowledge and technology to Greek industry.
The Achilles Shield agreement is part of Greece’s ‘Agenda 2030’ modernisation and reforming of its armed forces. Speaking of its necessity Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias was quoted by the MND as stating, “We are living in times of radical changes. Modern conflicts have already changed the parameters of military defence and deterrence. Technology, ballistic missiles, satellite communications, unmanned aerial systems, cyber threats, hybrid warfare, and the linking of operational fields have long rendered the existing defence doctrines completely obsolete.
“With this in mind we are completely reforming the foundations of the armed forces, being absolutely aware of and understanding the dysfunctionalities of the past and our attachments to it,” Dendias continued. “Greece is the first country of the EU that adopts such a model. The rapid change of everything is the necessary term for national survival against revisionism and ever-developing threats.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was quoted by the IMOD as stating, “My visit to Greece a few months ago, as the guest of Greek Defense Minister Dendias, was another expression of the depth of the strategic relationship between Israel and Greece and of our shared determination to keep strengthening it. In that meeting, we agreed to deepen defence co-operation between our two countries.
“Israel and Greece share common strategic interests and face shared regional challenges,” Katz added. “At a time when actors with hegemonic ambitions are seeking to expand their influence and undermine stability in the region, Israel and Greece will continue to deepen their defence and strategic co-operation, and will act with determination to preserve stability and safeguard their security and shared interests.”
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