Greece to Purchase Israeli Missiles, Anti-Drone Systems Against Turkey: Reports

A deal for Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missiles and anti-drone systems, both of which are produced in Israel, will be signed by Greece.

Greece will order 27 Spike missiles costing $374.8 million to arm U.S.-made AH-64 attack helicopters and Mark V patrol boats. These missiles will be shipped to the country starting next year, Fars News Agency reported.

The missiles will reportedly be deployed to ground units stationed in Greece’s Northeastern Evros region bordering Turkey and in the Aegean Islands.

The Hellenic Armed Forces are also setting up anti-drone systems using Israeli technology. It operates in a way that interferes with the flight capability of potential enemy UAVs. The system “blinds” hostile drones so they are unable to complete their mission.

In short, the UAV in flight whether it is the Turkey-made Bayraktar TB2 or the more sophisticated ANKA-S, will be disoriented with interference in its existing flight plan stored in memory, and also if the plan changes while on a mission, Kathimerini reported recently.

It is basically a version of an anti-UAV system that has features similar to those of Israel’s Drone Dome, but adapted to the specific needs of Greece and the geographical terrain of the islands and other border areas, the Greek report said.

Greece has also acquired Israeli drones, French Rafale jets and modernization kits for its F-16 fighter jets to upgrade them to the latest Viper configuration. The country has also submitted a letter of interest to the U.S, to purchase at least 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets. It is also seeking three American MQ-9 drones.

The report added that the process of evaluating the proposals submitted for the procurement of new corvettes for the Hellenic Navy has been completed. It was presented on July 1 to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Four proposals have been submitted: from France (Gowind), Italy (FCX-30 Doha), the Netherlands (Sigma 10514) and the U.K. (Arrowhead 140).

There is €2 billion left in the support program for the Hellenic Navy. Resources will have to be secured from this amount for the upgrade of the four MEKO frigates. If the €500 million upgrade of the MEKOs is indeed implemented, €1.5 billion will remain for the supply of four corvettes.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last month during Efes-2022 military exercise held on Aegean coasts that his country  will not relinquish its rights in the Aegean Sea and will not hesitate to use its powers stemming from international agreements.

"I warn Greece to avoid dreams, acts and statements that will result in regret. Come to your senses… Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean and will not back down from using rights that are established by international agreements when it comes to arming islands,” he said in a televised speech as he observed the Turkish military exercises on the coast of western Izmir province.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu claims Greece is violating the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Treaty by arming islands in the Aegean, and warned that the sovereignty of those islands will be questioned if Athens fails to demilitarize them.