"Achilles' Shield": In the final stretch for signatures for the major defense program

The "Achilles Shield" as it was characteristically named at a cost of 3 billion euros has long been on the path to implementation and after the political decision by the KYSEA, the required procedures are underway and at a rapid pace.

Besides, what is happening in the wider burning region with two wars raging and Turkey increasingly setting Greece as a target due to cooperation with Israel and Cyprus no longer leaves much room for delays.

The government seems determined to move forward with the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning 2025-2036 of 30 billion euros. and it does so step by step, always following the directions of the military leadership in order to meet the modern needs of strengthening the Armed Forces.

According to information from newmoney.gr, the General Directorate of Defense and Security (GDDAEE) has already sent the official Greek request (Request For Proposal) in the previous days for which and in what number of systems we want to the Israeli Directorate of International Defense Cooperation (SIBAT) after the negotiations that took place throughout the previous period with the companies (Rafael, IAI, ELTA).

Let us recall that the procurement will be carried out through a G2G (Government to Government) agreement, as are the other armament programs. As newmoney.gr had noted, the contacts between the General Directorate of Defense and the General Directorate of Defense have succeeded in including additional benefits for systems from the Israelis in the 3 billion euro package.

In fact, according to information, the legal advisors of the Israeli companies will be in Greece from the end of April to start working on the details of the contracts (which will build on previous ones) as the answer will not be long in coming.

The program will then head to the KYSEA, which is scheduled for May 18, to give final approval and begin the final drafting of the contracts.

In fact, the information that newmoney.gr had reported seems to be confirmed, that the final signatures for the program are expected by early June at the latest. The duration of the program will be three years with the first deliveries promised (IAI for Barak) to begin to be implemented even in 2027.

Weapon systems

The Hellenic Dome will transform the current fragmented air defense into a coherent system with specific weapon systems:

– With Rafael's Spyders which have maximum ranges of 15 km, 20 km and 40 km which will replace the Eastern origin OSA-AK and TOR M1.

And the systems for intercepting ballistic and other long-range missiles, David's Sling, which is planned to replace the S-300,

– With the Barak MX of IAI, which will form the backbone of the Dome with three types of missiles with a range from 35 km to 150 km and will replace the old Hawk-type weapon systems

-With the EL/M-2084 MMR mobile radars, of ELTA, (a subsidiary of IAI) to meet the needs of the Air Force's Air Control System. This is a state-of-the-art radar, capable of tracking 1,200 targets at a range of up to 475 km. And in the case of weapons, 200 targets at a range of up to 100 km.

– The command, control, communications, computer and intelligence (C4I: Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence) system which will be built in Greece in collaboration with Greek companies.

Greek companies in the program

The participation of the domestic defense industry will be particularly decisive and this has its own value as after many years, Greek companies will be given the opportunity to participate in such a large armament program at a rate of 25 or perhaps 30%, opening new avenues for development.

In the Achilles' Shield, Greek defense companies are intended to have a leading role, as in addition to the participation announced by Nikos Dendias of 25% in each armament program, the Israeli companies themselves have shown great willingness to cooperate with the domestic defense industry with the aim of ensuring direct supply through production lines.

Throughout the previous period, the Israelis have really swept the Greek companies to identify which ones they will cooperate with in the framework of the program.

It should be noted that there is already Intracom Defense, which has belonged to the Israeli IAI for three years and has already signed a memorandum of cooperation with Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS) in which it plans to set up a production line for the Barak. The same goes for the Hellenic Defense Industry (HADA), with which it has already begun the first steps, having signed a co-production MοU for the "Blue Whale" submarine, while it recently announced the successful integration of the Centauros anti-drone system into the Barak.

However, a number of other Greek defense companies have reportedly already signed up to participate, specifically Metlen, Miltech, Scytalys, AKMON, Salamis Shipyards and GEK TERNA, while others will follow as the program progresses.

At the same time, it seems that the final selection of vehicles that will carry the systems will be IVECO, represented by the Syngelidis Group (with which Metlen also collaborates).

The signatures for the "Hellenic Dome" are expected to follow the agreement for the fourth Belharra frigate, as well as two of the three contracts required for the modernization of the MEKO frigates. In the same context, the procurement of 36 PULS multiple launchers from the Israeli Elbit Systems, worth approximately 650 million euros, which will operate as a complement to the new defense system, is also included.

At the same time, the "green light" has already been given for a series of additional equipment programs totaling 5 billion euros, which are expected to be launched in the near future. These include the upgrade of 38 F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 50 fighters to Viper level, Follow On Support for the C-27J Spartan transport, as well as the Rafale fighters.