“Shield of Achilles” on pause: questions about the 3 billion contract

Greek Government National Security Council did not approve the air defense program “Shield of Achilles” on 3 billion eurosbut approved a number of other defense decisions.

ΚΥΣΕΑ has not approved, at least at this stage, the program “Shield of Achilles” (Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα) costing about 3 billion euroswhich the Greek press is already calling “golden dome”. We are talking about a multi-level air defense and anti-drone defense system, which Greece discusses mainly with Israel.

It was previously reported that a large defense package includes about 3 billion euros on “Shield of Achilles” and approximately 1 billion euros for modernization 38 F-16 fighters up to version Viper. However, the final decision on the air defense system must go through ΚΥΣΕΑand today, according to Greek media, the “golden dome” has not received final approval.

Now the main question is whether we are talking about a simple tactical pause or whether the government has decided to more carefully consider alternatives from USA, France And Germany. Possible options include Patriot PAC-3, SAMP/T And IRIS-T – systems that are already familiar to the Greek armed forces in one form or another.

Why did the question about Predator arise?

The politically sensitive part of the story relates not only to the price of the contract, but also to the possible direct purchase of Israeli systems. Amid the scandal with Predator Greek media and commentators have questioned whether there is a broader connection between Israeli technology structures, defense contracts and past stories surrounding spyware.

Publisher Pronews Thassos Gouriotis on air of the program “Κόκκινη Ζώνη” stated that it was Predatorin his assessment, was not only a private story, but also a matter of espionage and paragovernmental activity. These statements are political-journalistic assessments and require judicial verification, but the question itself remains serious: why can a contract of this magnitude proceed without open comparison with other systems?

If we are talking about a project on 3 billion eurosa transparent analysis of all options: American, French, German and Israeli would look logical. Direct procurement may be justified by strategic circumstances, but then the public needs to explain why this particular path has been chosen. Otherwise, any transfer of this magnitude will inevitably give rise to suspicion. Money in defense contracts, oddly enough, always feels the shadow especially well.

That ΚΥΣΕΑ still approved

At the same time, today’s meeting ΚΥΣΕΑ was not empty. According to Greek media reports, the council passed decisions on Italian frigates Bergaminiparticipation Ναυπηγεία Σκαραμαγκά (Skaramangas shipyard) in the modernization of frigates MEKOas well as for additional transfer of armored personnel carriers M113 V Lebanon.

The return of the systems is separately reported Patriot from Karpathos And Evros. This should restore more complete protection Attica long-range air defense systems. According to Greek sources, for the first time in many decades the area Attica actually remained without full-fledged long-range air defense cover due to the transfer of systems to other regions and the placement of one battery in Saudi Arabia.

Also discussed National Strategy for Unmanned Systems 2026–2030 and the procurement of advanced cryptographic devices to protect sensitive military communications from interception and electronic interference. After the wiretapping story, a word “communication protection” in Greece it sounds especially expressive – almost like fire instructions in a gasoline warehouse.

Editorial comment

Pause around “Shield of Achilles” may be a simple bureaucratic maneuver, but in the current atmosphere it seems more significant. When it comes to a contract for 3 billion eurosIsraeli systems, direct procurement and the shadow of scandal Predatorthe state is obliged to give not general phrases, but clear answers: why this particular supplier, why this particular procedure and why there was no open comparison with alternatives.

Greece We really need modern air defense. But defense necessity should not become a universal justification for closed decisions. The more expensive the contract and the more sensitive the political background, the more transparency is required. Otherwise, even a legitimate military need begins to look like another closed corridor, where the public finds out about the costs after the bill is almost written.

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