Achilles' Shield: Approval Time – Greek Participation "Locked" at 25%

The major armament program, worth 3 billion euros and with a three-year implementation horizon, envisages the creation of a multi-level air defense network – anti-missile, anti-ballistic and anti-drone – with Israeli weapons systems. The so-called “Hellenic Dome” will cover the entire territory and is considered one of the most emblematic projects of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning 2025-2036, totaling 30 billion euros.

For this reason, and despite the fact that the Greek side wishes to avoid further delays, a significant effort was made to address the individual deficiencies that had been identified and had resulted in the program not being included in the previous KYSEA. The outstanding issues, according to information from newmoney.gr, were resolved in the previous days, in order to avoid any unclear points that could create problems in the future.

The same information states that the very good cooperation developed by the Israeli companies with the General Directorate of Defense and the General Staffs led to the finalization of both the systems and the quantities that the country will procure.

The agreement on Greek industrial participation, which "locked" at least 25%, both in production work and in the transfer of know-how, was also a positive development. This development, as is natural, creates significant prospects for the Greek defense industry, opening up new development horizons.

Israeli companies have been in contact with Greek companies for some time, having already signed memorandums of understanding and strategic partnership agreements. In fact, it is estimated that the final percentage of Greek participation could even approach 30%, while complete plans have already been submitted for the creation of production lines in Greece.

IAI's cooperation with the Hellenic Defense Agency is indicative, through which the successful integration of the Kentauros anti-drone system into the Barak was achieved.

As newmoney.gr has reported, the participation of a number of Greek defense companies has already been agreed in principle, including Metlen, Miltech, Scytalys, Akmon, Salamis Shipyards and GEK TERNA. The list is expected to expand as the program progresses during its three-year implementation period.

At the same time, as newmoney.gr had revealed, the final choice for the vehicles that will transport the systems concerns IVECO, which is represented in Greece by the Syngelidis Group, in collaboration with Metlen.

The relevant files have now been signed by the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staffs and the General Directorate of Defense, while efforts are being made to include the program on the agenda of the next KYSEA, which is estimated to meet on June 18, or alternatively at the next meeting in early July.

It is recalled that the procurement will be implemented through an intergovernmental agreement (Government-to-Government – ​​G2G), as is the case with other major equipment programs.

At the same time, as newmoney.gr had reported, the legal advisors of the Israeli companies have been in Greece since April, in order to proceed with the final details of the contracts, which will be based on corresponding previous standards.

This fact creates optimism among market players that after approval by the KYSEA there will be no significant delays in the signatures, allowing the immediate start of the program. In fact, according to the commitments given by IAI for the Barak, the first deliveries could begin even within 2027.

The weapons systems of the “Hellenic Dome”

The “Hellenic Dome” is designed as a single air defense network, which will combine anti-aircraft, anti-ballistic and anti-drone systems, sensors, radars and command and control centers.

The goal is to shield the country against missile attacks, drones, UAVs, aircraft and other asymmetric threats, covering the entire Greek territory – from Thrace and Evros to Crete and the Aegean.

The systems reportedly selected include:

• Rafael's SPYDER systems, with maximum ranges of 15, 20 and 40 kilometers, which are intended to replace the Eastern-origin OSA-AK and TOR-M1.

• David's Sling systems for intercepting ballistic missiles and other long-range threats, which are planned to replace the S-300.

• IAI's Barak MX systems, which will form the backbone of the "Door", featuring three types of missiles with ranges from 35

up to 150 kilometers and replacing older Hawk-type systems.

• The EL/M-2084 MMR mobile radars of ELTA, a subsidiary of IAI, which will meet the needs of the Air Force Air Control System. These are advanced technology radars, capable of simultaneously tracking up to 1,200 targets at distances of up to 475 kilometers, as well as up to 200 targets in the case of weapons detection at distances of up to 100 kilometers.

• The Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) system, which will be manufactured in Greece in collaboration with Greek companies.

All of the above systems will operate in a single network-centric environment, interconnected with the Belharra frigates, the upgraded F-16 Viper, the F-35s under procurement and the Patriot systems.

The prospects for the Greek defense industry
Indicative of the prospects opening up for the Greek defense industry is the fact that the Barak MX of IAI – to which Intracom Defense now belongs – has already been selected by 12 countries worldwide, of which three are European and two are NATO members.

One of these is Cyprus, which, according to information, in addition to the systems it has already received, has also activated the option for the supply of additional systems.

A significant part of the production of the Barak MX is already taking place in Europe, while for Greece it has been reported that the creation of a separate production line in collaboration with Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS) is being considered, which will further strengthen the domestic industrial footprint of the program.