Israel, Greece Sign $3.5 Billion ‘Achilles Shield’ Air Defense Deal

Key Facts

Published: August 31, 2026 Location: Jerusalem Source: Israel Hayom, Israel Ministry of Defense, Reuters, Associated Press, Jerusalem Post

• Israel and Greece signed a roughly $3.5 billion defense agreement for Greece’s “Achilles Shield” air defense system.
• The system will include Israeli-made David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX, and radar technologies.
• The deal is the largest defense agreement in Israel-Greece relations and one of Israel’s biggest defense exports.

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israel and Greece have signed a landmark defense agreement worth roughly €3 billion, or about $3.5 billion, under which Israel will help build a multi-layered air defense system for Greece known as “Achilles Shield.”

The deal, signed in Tel Aviv, is the largest defense export agreement ever reached between Israel and Greece and one of the largest in Israel’s history. The system is expected to draw on Israeli combat-tested technology, including Rafael’s David’s Sling and SPYDER systems, Israel Aerospace Industries’ BARAK MX system, and ELTA multi-mission radar capabilities.

Greek defense officials say the project is part of Athens’ broader effort to modernize its armed forces and strengthen protection against missiles, aircraft, and drones. Greece has been upgrading its military posture amid growing instability across the eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea region, and the wider Middle East.

For Israel, the agreement marks another major step in the global demand for its air defense technology, especially after repeated missile and drone threats from Iran and its proxies have placed Israeli systems under real battlefield pressure. The deal also deepens the strategic partnership between Jerusalem and Athens at a time when energy routes, maritime security, and regional deterrence are becoming increasingly central to Mediterranean security.

The “Achilles Shield” project is expected to become a central pillar of Greece’s long-term defense modernization plan, as Athens seeks a layered national shield to defend critical infrastructure and population centers from a range of aerial threats.

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