Greece Launches $3.5 Billion “Achilles’ Shield” Air-Defense Modernization, Turning to Israeli Technology for Multi-Layered Protection

Greece is preparing for one of the most significant transformations of its national air-defense architecture in decades, moving ahead with a $3.5 billion modernization initiative known as “Achilles’ Shield.” Reported by the Greek City Times, the program represents a decisive shift toward Israeli defense technology, while deepening strategic cooperation between Athens and Jerusalem amid evolving security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The new project forms a key component of Greece’s broader 12-year, €28 billion defense modernization roadmap extending to 2036. Its primary objective is to replace a fragmented mix of aging Russian and U.S.-origin systems with a unified, multi-layered, high-mobility air-defense network capable of countering modern threats — from drones and cruise missiles to advanced tactical ballistic weapons.

Replacing Legacy Systems with a Modern, Integrated Shield

The first phase of Achilles’ Shield focuses on overhauling short-, medium-, and long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems that currently rely heavily on equipment acquired in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Short-Range Layer: SPYDER to Replace OSA-AK and TOR-M1

Greece intends to acquire the SPYDER (Surface-to-Air Python and Derby) system by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
The SPYDER family is known for:

• Rapid reaction times

• Autonomous engagement capability

• High mobility

• Effectiveness against UAVs, cruise missiles, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft

This system will replace Russia-supplied OSA-AK and TOR-M1 units, which have become increasingly difficult to sustain due to NATO and EU restrictions on Russian military technologies.

Medium-Range Layer: Barak MX to Replace MIM-23 Hawk

For the medium tier, Greece is expected to select the Barak MX, a next-generation modular SAM system. Its standout features include:

• Integration of multiple interceptor types in a single launcher

• Ability to counter precision-guided munitions

• Simultaneous engagement of multiple threats

• Software-defined architecture for future scalability

This upgraded system will replace Greece’s aging U.S.-made MIM-23 Hawk batteries, operational since the 1960s and now technologically outdated.

Long-Range Layer: SkyCeptor to Replace S-300 PMU-1

At the top tier, Greek planners are looking at the SkyCeptor, a lower-cost variant of the Stunner interceptor used in Israel’s David’s Sling system.

The SkyCeptor offers:

• Interception of tactical ballistic missiles

• High-speed hit-to-kill capability

• Interoperability with NATO missile-defense frameworks

This would replace Greece’s Russian S-300 PMU-1, which remains effective but faces spare-parts shortages and integration challenges due to geopolitical constraints.

Why Greece Is Pivoting Toward Israel

Greece’s turn toward Israeli air-defense technology is shaped by a combination of operational, geopolitical, and industrial factors. The most immediate driver is the region’s evolving security environment. Rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean—including persistent airspace disputes, the rapid spread of drones, and the increasing use of precision standoff weapons—have highlighted the need for a more modern, networked, and responsive air-defense architecture. Greek officials acknowledge that the existing patchwork of systems is no longer sufficient to counter these emerging threats.

A second major factor is the growing difficulty in maintaining Russian-origin systems. Platforms such as the S-300 PMU-1 and TOR-M1 have become harder to sustain due to EU and NATO restrictions, supply-chain disruptions, and the broader obsolescence of Russian components. This has pushed Athens toward defence solutions that are sustainable, upgradable, and aligned with Western logistics and support frameworks.

Israel’s air-defense offerings provide Greece with several practical advantages. Israeli systems are known for rapid delivery timelines, lower life-cycle costs, and battle-proven performance in some of the world’s most challenging operational environments. Their modular architecture also supports future upgrades, making them suitable for long-term integration into the Hellenic Air-Defense Network.

Industrial cooperation is another critical factor shaping Greece’s decision. The 2023 acquisition of Intracom Defense by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) strengthened defence-industrial ties between the two nations. This partnership enables local component manufacturing, domestic assembly, and long-term maintenance support, while opening avenues for technology transfer and high-skilled jobs within Greece’s defence sector. These developments support Athens’ goal of revitalizing its national defense-industrial base.

Regional and Strategic Impact

Achilles’ Shield has implications far beyond Greece’s borders:

• Strengthens NATO’s southeastern air-defense corridor

• Enhances deterrence in the Eastern Mediterranean

• Counters rising drone and missile threats in Europe’s southern flank

• Deepens Greek-Israeli cooperation amid shifting regional alignments

Israeli officials view the programme as a major step forward in Europe’s adoption of Israeli missile defense technologies.

The Achilles’ Shield program marks a generational shift in Greece’s approach to air and missile defense. With a projected value of $3.5 billion, it is one of the most ambitious upgrades undertaken by the Hellenic Armed Forces since the Cold War.

Replacing outdated Russian and U.S.-made systems with an Israeli-designed, integrated multi-layer network positions Greece to meet modern aerial threats with significantly improved accuracy, mobility, and interoperability.

As deliveries begin from 2026 onward, Achilles’ Shield is set to become a defining pillar of Greece’s defense posture — strengthening national security, supporting NATO operations, and solidifying Athens’ role as a major defense partner to Israel in Europe.