Israel has confirmed that its cooperation with the Greek Armed Forces on the €3.035 billion Achilles Shield multilayered air defence system will include technology and know-how transfers, as well as the joint use of software and technology.
The confirmation comes days after Greece and Israel signed an intergovernmental agreement covering the development of the new air defence architecture.
The agreement also provides for substantial participation by Greece’s defence industry, with Greek companies taking an active role in the co-production of components for the systems.
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has said that Greek defence-industry participation of at least 25% represents a key condition of the programme. The agreement also places particular emphasis on transferring technology and production capabilities into Greece’s defence ecosystem and providing access to the systems’ source code.
According to Kathimerini, Moshe Patel, director of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization, confirmed that the programme envisages around 25% domestic industrial participation. Israeli defence companies have already begun working with prospective Greek companies on the development and co-production of components, he said.
When Greece and Israel announced the agreement on August 31, 2026, they said 19 Greek companies had already entered the relevant processes, with Greek participation exceeding 25% and reaching approximately €750 million.
The programme also envisages establishing a production base in Greece with export potential.
Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling
Patel outlined the Israeli systems included in the agreement and described the design of the multilayered missile and air defence network that Greece plans to establish.
The system will combine Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling interceptors to provide different layers of air defence.
Patel explained that the Spyder system will form the lower layer and will operate on islands farther from mainland Greece. Barak MX will cover additional islands closer to the mainland, while David’s Sling, with its longer range, will protect mainland Greece and some surrounding islands.
Together, the systems will provide what Patel described as comprehensive coverage.
The agreement will also include radars manufactured and developed by ELTA in Israel. These will form part of the system’s target-detection capability, alongside a command-and-control system designed to coordinate the various defence systems and radars.
Lessons from recent conflicts
Asked about the effectiveness of Israel’s multilayered air defence system following recent developments in the wider region, Patel said the lessons learned from recent operations have already been incorporated into the systems.
This means Greece will receive systems at a mature stage of development, while the systems’ operational capabilities have demonstrated a high success rate, he said.
Four years of planning
Patel said the agreement followed almost four years of preparation and contacts between Greece and Israel.
Greek Air Force officers and personnel from the defence planning sector visited Israel repeatedly, while Israeli delegations travelled to Athens.
The two sides paid particular attention to the positioning of the radars, taking the terrain of each area into account to maximise coverage and protection.
The agreement will also provide for training Greek military personnel in Israel, while Greece can host training if necessary.
