Greece’s security council, KYSEA, is expected to give final approval on Thursday for the purchase of a multi-layered air defence system from Israel worth up to €3.5 billion ($4 billion), along with several types of drones, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters.
KYSEA initially approved the plan earlier this year and is now expected to authorise the procurement contracts, an official familiar with the deal said.
The planned system, named "Achilles Shield", is designed to protect against ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. Israeli defence companies Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are expected to supply key components, including radar and missile systems.
The purchase forms part of Greece's wider effort to modernise its armed forces.
Athens has announced plans to spend around €28 billion by 2036 on defence upgrades, including the acquisition of up to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. and new frigates from France and Italy.
Greece currently allocates nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product to defence, a higher proportion than many other NATO members, largely due to its long-running tensions with neighbouring Türkiye.
Greece and Israel have strengthened military ties in recent years, with the two countries operating a joint air training centre in Greece, conducting annual military exercises and cooperating on counter-drone technology and cyber security.
Last year, Athens approved the purchase of 36 Israeli-made rocket artillery systems worth around €650 million.
"KYSEA will also approve the purchase of drones from the U.S. and Israel," the official said.
A second official confirmed the planned approval of the Israeli air defence system and drone purchases.
Greece currently relies on U.S.-made Patriot missile systems and older Russian S-300 air defence systems to protect its airspace.
The planned "Achilles Shield" system would add a new layer of protection as Athens seeks to strengthen its capabilities against emerging aerial threats.
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for t...
The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and European partners have put a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype through its paces in Spain’s Tabern...
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the int...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Swiss glaciers lost more than 5 per cent of their ice in 2026, making it one of their worst years on record as a dry winter and repeated heatwaves accelerated melting across the Alps.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.
A retired Australian builder has arrived in Baku in his 1929 Pontiac Roadster during an epic journey from Bangkok to Istanbul, using the nearly century-old car to raise money for Parkinson’s research.
Around 400 schools across France remained closed on Friday as protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings escalated into violence, leaving dozens injured and leading to 2,000 arrests.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow wanted to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations as soon as possible, while insisting that any settlement must meet conditions acceptable to Russia and include security guarantees.
The family of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis in January, has sued the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of excessive force and unconstitutional conduct.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment