Greece on Thursday approved plans to purchase the 'Achilles Shield' defensive dome, designed to counter missiles, drones, and aircraft, from Israel for €2.8 billion, a source from the Defense Ministry in Athens told AFP.

The deal is part of a massive defense spending plan worth €4.2 billion ($4.8 billion) that also includes C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, Heron drones, Apache helicopter missiles, Victa stealth watercraft, and frigate-specific sonar systems, according to a ministry document seen by AFP.

A ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity pending an official statement, said that the purchase of the 'Achilles Shield' was approved during a meeting of the Greek Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The ministry document stated that Greek defense contractors will contribute €700 million to the dome project.

Use of Israeli systems

Israeli air defense systems, including the Iron Dome designed to intercept short-range rockets, have been used multiple times to intercept projectiles during the war in the Middle East.

Greece has traditionally invested at least 2% of its GDP in defense due to decades of tension with Turkey.

It has sought to strengthen its position in the Eastern Mediterranean near conflict zones in the Middle East.

It currently allocates more than 3% of its GDP to defense.

Under Mitsotakis, it has invested heavily in developing its armed forces, particularly in Belharra ships and French-made Rafale fighter jets.

Athens agreed to buy 4 Belharra-class frigates for defense and intervention, after ordering 24 Rafale fighters.

Renewal of defense cooperation with France

During a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron last April, Greece and France renewed a defense cooperation agreement signed in 2021 that allows arms purchases.

Macron said then before visiting the Kimon, the first Belharra-class frigate delivered to Greece: 'If your sovereignty is threatened, we will stand by you.'

Other purchases announced on Thursday include C-390 Millennium aircraft manufactured in Brazil, and Victa watercraft for special forces made in Britain. The ministry document said most of the Victa vehicles will be built inside the shipyards in Skaramangas, Greece.

Athens also signed an agreement to acquire 20 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets.

In 2025, Mitsotakis announced that his country would spend €25 billion on defense over the next 12 years.

The conservative prime minister, who is preparing for elections by next spring, described the project as the largest 'radical' restructuring of defense in modern Greek history.

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