Greece and Israel sign 3 billion euro Achilles Shield defense agreement

On August 31, 2026, Greece and Israel formally signed a historic intergovernmental agreement in Tel Aviv for the development of an integrated, multi-layered air and missile defense system known as the Achilles Shield. The contract, valued at approximately 3 billion euros, was signed by the Greek General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments, represented by Lieutenant General Ioannis Bouras, and the Israeli Ministry of Defence's SIBAT division, led by Director General Amir Eshel.

The system is designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft. The architectural core consists of advanced Israeli technologies such as the David's Sling, Barak MX, and Spyder systems, integrated with ELM-2084 AESA radars and a national command and control center. A key feature of the partnership is a 25% participation rate for the Greek defense industry in the production phase, which aims to enhance local technological capabilities and defense infrastructure.

Following approval by the Greek Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence on July 23, 2026, the project is now entering its implementation phase. The system is scheduled for a progressive delivery schedule, with full operational status expected to be reached within 35 months, by July 2029.