A Greek parliamentary committee has approved a defense package worth about €4 billion ($ 4.6 billion), clearing the way for Greece to deploy a new multi-layer air and drone defense system, upgrade 38 additional F-16 fighter jets, modernize naval assets, and support military transport aircraft.
The committee gave its approval during a closed-door parliamentary session on Monday, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The decision marks another major step in Athens’ long-term effort to strengthen military capabilities across multiple branches of the armed forces.
Achilles Shield becomes the centerpiece
The largest part of the package is the planned acquisition of a new air and drone defense network known as Achilles Shield, with an estimated cost of around €3 billion ($3.4 billion).
Greece is already in talks with Israel, which is expected to provide a significant share of the missile systems required for the project. The shield will create a layered defensive umbrella against a range of aerial threats and reflects the growing importance of integrated air defense systems in the region.
Greece pushes ahead with wider defense spending and F-16 upgrade plan
The new package forms part of Greece’s broader defense plan. The government has said it aims to spend around €28 billion ($32 billion) by 2036 to modernize the armed forces. Athens is pursuing that strategy as the country continues to recover from the effects of the 2009–2018 debt crisis and tries to maintain military readiness.
Before the package can move forward fully, it must still receive approval from the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence, known as KYSEA, Greece’s top decision-making body on foreign affairs and defense matters.
F-16 upgrade plan advances with 38 more jets
The parliamentary committee also approved the modernization of 38 F-16 Block 50 aircraft, a program estimated at about €1 billion ($1.15 billion). These jets date back to the 1990s and will be upgraded to the more advanced Viper configuration.
Greece currently operates a fleet of about 150 F-16s and has already upgraded roughly forty aircraft, making this the next phase in a broader effort to modernize its fighter fleet.
Frigates and transport aircraft also included
The same parliamentary session also cleared the way for the upgrade of four older MEKO 200 frigates, German-designed multipurpose warships that remain a core part of the Hellenic Navy’s surface fleet.
Lawmakers also approved a maintenance agreement for C29J military transport aircraft, broadening the scope of the package beyond missile defense and fighter aviation.
