Greece approves €4‑5 bn defence package centred on “Achilles Shield” air‑defence system

On 23 July 2026 Greece’s Government Council for National Security (KYSEA) gave the green light to eleven defence programmes worth roughly €4‑5 billion. The centerpiece is the “Achilles Shield”, a multi‑layer air‑defence network built with Israeli radars and missiles (Rafael and IAI) that will intercept ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. The system is valued at €3‑3.5 billion and is expected to be fully operational within 35 months, with at least 25 % of production performed by Greek firms, amounting to about €700 million of domestic industry participation. The package also includes three Embraer C‑390 Millennium transport aircraft acquired through a government‑to‑government deal with Portugal, Heron and V‑BAT unmanned aerial vehicles, ten British‑made VICTA mini‑submarines, upgrades to four MEKO‑200HN frigates, Hellfire missiles for Apache helicopters, micro‑satellites with SAR capability and night‑vision helmets for army commanders. The broader modernisation plan foresees spending €31.9 billion through 2036 on additional items such as up to 40 U.S.‑made F‑35 fighter jets and French/Italian frigates. Greece now allocates about 3.5 % of GDP to defence, driven by its long‑running dispute with Turkey.