NATO member Greece is set to unveil a massive modernization of its armed forces on Wednesday, following the lead of several of its European allies.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to present the timeline to parliament, headlined with an eye-catching new anti-aircraft defense set-up called “Achilles’s Shield.”
The Mediterranean country already dedicates more than 3.0 percent of its GDP on defense – owing to decades of tension with neighboring Turkey.
It now plans to invest approximately 26 billion euros ($28 billion) on new weapons systems by 2036, according to ministerial sources.
The Greek government has called it “the most significant reform ever undertaken in the history of the Greek state in terms of national defense.”
“Our country is protecting itself, arming itself, and strengthening itself,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said last week.
Alongside Poland, Estonia and Latvia, Greece is one of the few NATO member states that allocates more than 3.0 percent of output to defense.
And this year the nation of 10.5 million has doubled its military budget to 6.13 billion euros ($6.6 billion).
“Historically, Greece has served and will continue to serve as an outpost for Europe, which is currently seeking to reorganize its defense in a difficult international setting,” said Maria Gavouneli, a professor of international law at the University of Athens.
A key part of the shake-up is an upgrade to its anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems called “Achilles’s Shield,” according to a source familiar with the matter.
Greek media reports suggest Athens is in negotiations with Israel to acquire the shield, which also includes enhancing anti-drone systems.
France, Italy and Norway have been also cited as possible suppliers of the new weapons, which include unmanned vessels (USVs), drones and radars.
Greece has sought to strengthen its position on the EU’s Eastern Mediterranean border, close to the conflict zones of the Middle East.
A dutiful buyer of European military equipment, especially from France and Germany, Greece has always justified its arms spending by pointing to territorial disputes and threats from historic rival Turkey.