Greece will cooperate with Israel on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday after meeting his Israeli counterpart in Athens.
“We agreed to exchange views and know-how to be able to deal with drones and, in particular swarms of unmanned vehicles and groups of unmanned subsea vehicles,” Dendias said in joint statements with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“We will also work together in order to be ready to intercept cyber threats,” Katz added. With strong economic and diplomatic ties, Greece and Israel operate an air training center on Greek territory and have held joint military drills in recent years.
“We are equally determined regarding another critical issue: not to allow actors who seek to undermine regional stability to gain a foothold through terror, aggression,” it was added.
Greece undergoing massive military modernization program with Israel, including anti-drone capabilities
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support and shared strategic interests at a trilateral summit between the three countries’ leaders in Jerusalem in December 2025, emphasizing cooperation on regional security issues, including activities in Syria, Gaza, and the Aegean Sea.
Greece is undergoing a €25 billion ($29 billion) to €28 billion ($32.8 billion) military modernization program, the country’s most ambitious defense overhaul in modern history, designed to transform the Hellenic Armed Forces into one of Europe’s most technologically advanced militaries.
The program, running from 2025 to 2036, allocates roughly €2 billion ($2.3 billion) to €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) annually to strengthen Greece’s deterrence capabilities. Key acquisitions include twenty F-35 fighter jets, advanced drone and cyber systems, and the development of Achilles’ Shield: a multi-layered air, missile, and anti-drone defense network that will see a range of Israeli systems as key platforms.
It includes a €3.2 billion ($3.5 billion) investment in Israeli-made Barak MX, David’s Sling, and Spyder systems, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to replace aging American and Russian platforms.
Last year, Greece approved the purchase of 36 Israeli-made PULS rocket artillery systems for about €650 million ($762.52 million).
