Greece’s Defence Ministry will present a €5 billion military procurement package to parliament next week, including plans for a multilayered air-defence system dubbed “Achilles Shield,” officials said.
The proposal comes as conflicts in the Middle East highlight the growing threat from ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, prompting governments to strengthen air-defence capabilities.
According to officials, the Greek government has made the enhancement of national air defences a top priority in its armaments strategy. The centrepiece of the programme is the creation of an integrated defence dome designed to counter ballistic missiles, drones, cruise missiles and loitering munitions.
The project is expected to be presented to the parliamentary armaments committee on Monday as part of a broader defence package that also includes upgrades to fighter jets, naval vessels and military infrastructure.
If approved by the committee, the proposals will be forwarded to Greece’s Government Council for National Security (KYSEA) before being submitted to parliament for ratification and contract signing.
Officials said the air-defence dome would account for the largest share of the spending, with anti-aircraft systems expected to cost nearly €3 billion. The planned network would cover the entire country and integrate multiple layers of sensors and interceptors into a unified command structure.
The system is expected to include Israeli-made Spyder AiO, Barak MX and David’s Sling interceptors, supported by the ELM-2084 radar for detection and tracking of aerial threats. The new systems would operate alongside Greece’s existing Patriot batteries and sensors deployed on eastern Aegean islands under the unified air-defence command established earlier this year by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
The defence package also includes a €1.1 billion programme to upgrade 38 F-16 Block 50 fighter jets to the more advanced Viper configuration. The upgrade would add a new radar, an improved mission computer, certification for precision weapons and a Link-16 data-link terminal enabling the aircraft to exchange data with Rafale and future F-35 jets as well as other modern military platforms.
Lawmakers are also expected to review a proposed five-year, €240 million support contract for Greece’s C-27J Spartan transport aircraft fleet, aimed at restoring operational readiness after years of limited availability.
In addition, officials will brief parliament on infrastructure upgrades at the 117th Fighter Wing base in Andravida in the western Peloponnese to prepare for the arrival of F-35 fighter jets. The work, estimated to cost up to €300 million, includes new maintenance facilities, aircraft shelters, reinforced security perimeters and enhanced cybersecurity systems in line with U.S. security standards.
The procurement plan reflects Athens’ broader effort to modernise its armed forces amid heightened regional security concerns, officials said.