Greece approves €3 billion air defence upgrade under Achilles’ Shield initiative
Greece has approved a €3 billion military modernisation package focused on air defence, signalling a major boost for defence contractors while aiming to secure national airspace against emerging threats.
Greece has approved the purchase of more than €3 billion ($3.4 billion) worth of air defence systems under its new Achilles’ Shield initiative. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced the acquisition, which aims to establish a robust protective network across the country.
The minister stated that the capabilities will be delivered in stages, with the entire enterprise expected to be operational within 35 months. The stated objective is to deploy a “range of weapons that create overlapping shields across the entire Greek territory, with an integrated command-and-control system.”
While Dendias did not name specific countries in his initial remarks, he later confirmed that the plan involves producing Israeli systems within Greece. Previous reports indicate Athens is in talks to acquire platforms such as Rafael’s David’s Sling and radars from ELTA, an Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary.
This domestic production angle represents a significant injection of capital into the local economy. Dendias indicated that approximately €700 million of the air defence budget will be directed specifically toward Greek industry.
The move reflects a wider European trend of rapidly expanding air defence capabilities against missiles, rockets and one-way drones. Greece is joining other nations developing sprawling defensive networks, mirroring strategies seen in America’s Golden Dome and Turkey’s Steel Dome projects.
Beyond the core air defence shield, the approved package includes notable unmanned aerial vehicle acquisitions. Greece will purchase 10 V-Bat surveillance drones from the US firm Shield AI to complement its existing fleet of four, alongside an Israeli-made Heron UAV.
The modernisation push also extends to military logistics. The government approved the acquisition of three Embraer-made C-390 transport planes from Portugal.
The first of these aircraft is expected to be delivered next year. Collectively, these investments mark a decisive shift in Greek defence spending, offering substantial new revenue streams for transatlantic and Middle Eastern manufacturers while reshaping the regional security architecture.
