Israel and Greece have signed the Achilles Shield agreement for a multilayered air defence system. The near-3 billion Euro pact deepens strategic ties and highlights surging demand for Israeli weapons.
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Telaviv, UPDATED: Aug 31, 2026 17:22 IST
Israel on Monday signed a nearly 3 billion Euro defence export deal with Greece, the biggest weapons agreement between the two Mediterranean countries, as Israeli arms sales continue to rise. The deal, named Achilles Shield, includes a multilayered air defence system for Greece using Israeli technology.
The agreement comes as Israel’s defence exports hit record levels. Official data showed exports crossed USD 19 billion last year, up 30 per cent from 2024, despite criticism of Israel’s conduct in its wars in Gaza, with Hezbollah and with Iran.
Israel’s Defence Ministry said the deal is worth nearly USD 3.5 billion and is among the country’s largest defence export agreements. Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “Israel and Greece share common strategic interests and face shared regional challenges. At a time when actors with hegemonic ambitions are seeking to expand their influence and undermine stability in the region.”
Experts say governments turn to Israel because its weapons are battle-tested and they can see in real time that the munitions and systems work. Israel and Greece have steadily expanded defence ties over the past decade, but Monday’s signing is their most significant deal so far. It comes as Greece moves to modernise its armed forces to keep pace with neighbour and fellow NATO member Turkiye amid long-running disputes over sea boundaries i
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