Hellenic News Update 19-05-2025

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U.S. stalls Abrams tanks, presses Greece for Patriot to Ukraine - April 29, 2025
On April 29, 2025, reports surfaced that the United States is navigating a complex and seemingly contradictory approach to its military support for Ukraine, raising questions about its broader strategic priorities. According to the Greek outlet Kathimerini, the U.S. has been pressing Greece to transfer one of its Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, a move that would bolster Kyiv’s defenses against Russian aerial assaults. At the same time, posts on X and media reports indicate that the U.S. has delayed the export of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks promised by Australia to Ukraine, citing a broader halt in military aid approvals under the current administration. Read more

Greece to ask EU for fiscal leeway on defense spending, minister says - April 29, 2025
Greece will ask the European Commission to exempt its 2026 defense spending from the EU’s budget rules as part of the so-called fiscal escape clause, its finance minister said on Tuesday. The country will submit a request later on Tuesday seeking to exempt defense spending worth 500 million euros ($569.60 million) earmarked for 2026, less than 0.3% of its GDP, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis told public broadcaster ERT. “The increase [in spending] planned from 2025 to 2026 is approximately half a billion euros that has been planned and this also concerns the following years. There is a very specific defense spending program that we have presented as a government,” the minister said, adding that the 500 million euros in the 2026 budget are excluded from the spending rule calculation. Read more

Battle stations for industry - April 29, 2025
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and local industry last week took the first coordinated step toward creating a Greek defense cluster, to operate in collaboration with the government for increasing the domestic added value in Greek armament programs and participating in aspects of the ReArm Europe plan, with a budget of 800 billion euros. What became clear in the broad meeting at the PM’s office, held with the participation of 15 Greek companies in the sector, is that Greece has the know-how and production capacity to play an important role in this field. The meeting was attended by the heads or representatives of the groups Viohalco, Metlen, Saracakis, GEK Terna, Aeroservices, the shipyards of Skaramangas, Salamina and Elefsis, EFA, Intracom Defense, Miltech, Prisma Electronics, Sotiria Technology, as well as state-owned companies EAB and EAS. Read more

Greece’s Complicated Relationship with NATO and Its Role Today - April 26, 2025
The country joined NATO in 1952, alongside Turkey, amid fears of communist expansion and in the aftermath of a devastating civil war. For both sides, the partnership offered strategic and security benefits, but underlying tensions would soon test the strength of the alliance. Today, despite lingering distrust and friction with fellow NATO member Turkey, Greece remains a vital part of the alliance. Its geographic position, military contributions, and political leverage continue to make it indispensable to NATO’s southern flank. Read more

Greece could purchase Brazilian C-390 transport aircraft to replace its US-made C-130 Hercules - April 25, 2025
As reported by OnAlert on April 22, 2025, the Brazilian Embraer C-390 Millennium has been formally included in Greece’s Long-Term Defence Procurement Program as a candidate to replace the aging US-made C-130 Hercules aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF). The Air Force General Staff has recommended the initial acquisition of at least three C-390s, with an option for additional aircraft in subsequent phases. This potential procurement is structured within a 12-year defense planning framework. However, its implementation is scheduled for the end of the decade, as current priorities include the ongoing upgrade of 38 F-16 Block 50 fighters to the Viper configuration. Read more

Salamis Shipyards Reemerges as Naval Hub in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean - April 25, 2025
Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, French Republic’s Minister of Defense, visited Salamis Shipyards in Greece, where pre‑outfitted blocks for the FDI frigates—among the most advanced warships in the world—are under construction for both the Hellenic and French navies. Through the FDI frigate program, and other programs, such as the reactivation and upgrade of Island-class patrol vessels, Salamis Shipyards are emerging as a key player in the Franco-Hellenic strategic partnership and a driving force in the revitalization of Greece’s shipbuilding industry. Read more

Greek F-35 pilot training set to begin by September - April 25, 2025
The Hellenic Air Force is set to begin training its first F-35 pilots by September, with 14 pilots and 60 technicians heading to the United States this summer. Though the first Greek F-35 fighter jets are not expected to arrive in Andravida Air Base until the start of the next decade, training is to begin early due to the program’s complexity and demands. Initial pilot training will take place at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where pilots are required to complete at least 192 hours of simulator training before their first flight, as the F-35 lacks a two-seater configuration. Technicians will begin their preparation at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, working with digital models and mock-ups before hands-on training. In parallel, Hellenic Air Force officials will soon travel to Washington to join the Joint Program Office (JPO), which oversees the F-35’s international partners. Read more

Greece closes 21 army units in second phase of military overhaul - April 24, 2025
Greece’s Defense Ministry has completed the second phase of a sweeping military reform plan aimed at streamlining operations and reducing costs. The initiative involves the consolidation and relocation of 21 military units across the mainland and islands, part of a broader effort to modernize the armed forces. Since the plan began in late 2024, 31 units have been decommissioned. The upcoming third and fourth phases, set to conclude by the end of 2025, will be the most extensive, cutting another 106 units. The reorganization, based on recommendations from the Hellenic Army General Staff, targets inactive, understaffed, or strategically redundant units. Read more

The new weapons shielding Greece - Who will share the massive armaments package over the next five years - April 23, 2025
A new chapter for the country’s deterrent power and domestic business was opened by the KYSEA meeting midweek, which gave the green light not only for the acquisition of the fourth FDI (Belharra) frigate by the Navy but also for the Long-Term Defense Armaments Program for the Armed Forces 2025–2036. At least €25 billion will be allocated over the next twelve years to meet its requirements. In a period of historic geopolitical shifts and active provocations for both Europe and Greece, defense shielding becomes more than a government priority. It simultaneously redefines the national defense doctrine and accelerates the development of defense systems by the Greek private sector. Read more

Greece to strengthen military support for wildfire prevention efforts - April 17, 2025
Greek officials met Thursday to discuss the support of the Armed Forces, particularly aerial units, during the upcoming wildfire season. The meeting, led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Thanos Davakis and Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas, focused on ensuring coordination between the National Defense Ministry and the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry. Davakis stated, “The Armed Forces will assist in the operational planning of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Protecting lives, property and our natural resources is a national priority.” Read more

F-16 upgrade negotiations with the US continue as key differences persist - April 16, 2025
A key component of the 12-year, €28 billion defense procurement plan approved by the Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs (KYSEA) on Wednesday is the upgrade of the F-16 Block 50 fighter jets to the Viper configuration. The discussion focused on ongoing negotiations between Greece and the United States, which seek to resolve financial differences surrounding the upgrade program. Under the Long-Term Defense Armaments Program (MPAE), €1 billion has been allocated for the upgrade of 38 aircraft. However, this amount still falls short of the informal US offer, which stands at €1.5 billion. American manufacturing companies have said that there is very limited room to reduce costs. Read more

Greece Orders Exocet MM40 Block 3C Anti-Ship Missiles - April 15, 2025
On Monday, April 14, 2025, Greece signed an intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 16 EXOCET MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles with land attack capability from MBDA. The Interstate Convention was officially signed in Athens by Major General Ioannis Bouras, General Director of the General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA), and Mrs Annie Kristina Ramon, representative of MBDA (missile systems), in the presence of the Greek and French Ministers of Defense, Nikos Dendias and Sébastien Lecornu, respectively. The signing took place during an official visit by the French delegation, underscoring the deepening strategic relationship between the two nations. Read more

Greece Negotiates with France a Fourth Belharra Frigate to Strengthen Naval Deterrence in the Mediterranean - April 15, 2025
On April 14, 2025, the official visit of French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu to Athens reaffirmed the strength of the strategic partnership between Greece and France, particularly in the naval domain. During his meeting with Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, discussions focused on ongoing deliveries of French defense systems, including Belharra-class frigates, Rafale fighter jets, NH90 helicopters, and Exocet missiles. The Greek side also expressed its intention to finalize the acquisition of a fourth frigate. Greece signed a contract with Naval Group in March 2022 for three frigates, and negotiations for a fourth unit—expected to be named HS Themistocles—are nearing completion. Read more

New Frigates, Submarines, Patrol Vessels and Several Upgrade Programs for Greece - April 14, 2025
On April 10, Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias addressed the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Armament Programmes and Contracts regarding the Long-term Planning of Defence Armaments of the Armed Forces 2025–2036. The following day, April 11, he expanded on the program in an interview with journalist Apostolos Mangiriadis at the Delphi Economic Forum X. In both appearances, he presented the long-awaited defense procurement plan for the Hellenic Armed Forces. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen national defense and upgrade military capabilities over the next 12 years in response to rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics. Central to the plan is a comprehensive naval armament program. Read more

Military upgrade to the tune of €28 bln - April 11, 2025
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias presented a comprehensive 12-year defense modernization program to Parliament on Thursday, aimed at enhancing Greece’s military capabilities from 2025 to 2036. The €28 billion plan includes a base budget of €25 billion, with an additional €3 billion expected from fiscal flexibility under the European “ReArm Europe” initiative. The key components of the defense overhaul include “Achilles Shield,” a cutting-edge multilayered defense system powered by artificial intelligence to protect Greece from air, sea and underwater threats. Additionally, the Greek military will invest in new missile systems for artillery, capable of long-range strikes. Talks with the US are ongoing to upgrade existing launchers and acquire new ones, such as the HIMARS system. Read more

Greece to produce VBCI Philoctetes infantry fighting vehicles through exclusive deal with France - April 8, 2025
On 26 March 2025, KNDS France and the Greek company Metlen Energy & Metals signed an exclusive partnership agreement in Athens to enable the production of the VBCI Philoctetes infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Greece. This agreement includes the transfer of expertise in aluminium armour and the localized manufacturing of the VBCI Mk2 welded structure at Metlen’s facilities in Volos. According to both companies, this is the first time KNDS France has entered into a partnership of this scale for the production of 8x8 armoured vehicles. The collaboration is intended to meet the Hellenic Army’s requirement for a large number of infantry fighting vehicles and potentially other European clients. Read more

Armed forces chief on getting military restructuring right - April 7, 2025
Thanks to their new capabilities, the Greek armed forces could respond even more swiftly today to a crisis similar to that of 2020, the head of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), General Dimitris Houpis, told Kathimerini’s Sunday edition in an exclusive interview. The capabilities, he said, enhance the natural advantages offered by the geography of the island archipelago, while at the same time providing the ability to deliver a strategic strike. On the subject of Greece’s deepening defense relationship with Israel, Houpis described it as a mutually beneficial strategic marriage. Read more

Exclusive: Greece Launches €2.8 Billion 'Achilles Shield' Project to Build National Air Defense System. - April 5, 2025
Greece has taken a monumental step toward redefining its national defense with the formal announcement of the “Achilles Shield,” a €2.8 billion ($3 billion) air defense initiative that forms the most technologically advanced component of the country’s ongoing €25 billion military modernization program. Unveiled by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Parliament on April 2, 2025, Achilles Shield is designed as a multi-layered, integrated air defense system capable of countering a wide range of threats including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, naval platforms, and even submarine-based threats. Read more

Greece vows to spend €25 billion on armed forces overhaul centered on high-tech warfare technology - April 3, 2025
Greece will spend 25 billion euros ($27 billion) over the next decade to adapt its military to evolving high-tech warfare technologies, officials announced Wednesday. Defense Minister Dendias told Parliament the overhaul will be built around a planned air defense system called “Achilles Shield,” primarily aimed at addressing tensions with neighboring Turkey. The two NATO members have long-standing disputes over boundaries in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean that have brought them close to war several times in recent decades. Dendias said Greece plans to shift from traditional defense systems to a high-tech, networked strategy centered on mobile, AI-powered missile systems, drone technologies, and advanced command units. Read more

Greece eyes Israeli-made air defense system - April 2, 2025
Greece is actively exploring the acquisition of Israel’s BARAK air defense system to replace its aging Soviet-origin S-300s, potentially making it a key component of the country’s new multilayered air defense architecture, known as the “Achilles Shield,” sources told Kathimerini. The Israeli air defense systems are favored over the US-made Patriot system due to shorter delivery times and lower costs, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained in Parliament during the presentation of Greece’s €25 billion ($26.99 billion) 12-year defense strategy. “Greece is one of the countries that already possesses American Patriot systems. If we want to purchase new Patriot systems, it would take four to five years to acquire such a system—quite simply because the production capacity isn’t there,” Mitsotakis said. Read more

Greek PM announced a 12-year long defence procurement plan - April 2, 2025
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a 25 billion euros budget to strengthen the Greek armed forces, addressing the plenary session of the parliament. At the core of Greece’s 12-year long-term defence procurement planning will be the creation of a multi-layered air defense system, to be named the “Achilles Shield,” as well as the sustainment of existing weapons systems. Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that Greece is among the core group of EU states supporting the European Commission’s efforts to achieve strategic autonomy. Within this framework, the country allocates more than 3% of its GDP to defence expenditures and has set as a prerequisite for new procurement programs the participation of the domestic defence industry at a rate of up to 25%. Read more

Naval Group Offers Greece Local Build of 3 More FDI Frigates - April 1, 2025
A few days after reports in the Greek media suggested Greece’s interest in acquiring used Bergamini-class (FREMM IT) frigates from the Italian Navy—and amid ongoing discussions between the two sides, including last Sunday’s visit by Greek military and political leaders to the frigate Carlo Margottini, which was stationed in Piraeus in the presence of the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Credendino—Naval News has learned that French shipbuilder Naval Group has presented the Greek authorities with a proposal aimed at strengthening the French-Greek cooperation in naval defense and technology. The proposal includes, among other elements, the local construction of three additional Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates, in addition to the four already set to be acquired by Greece. Read more

Athens eyes Italian frigates - April 1, 2025
Greece is advancing negotiations to acquire two Italian FREMM frigates, the Virginio Fasan (F 591) and Carlo Bergamini (F 590), with a €580 million budget earmarked for the purchase. The discussions, which have progressed significantly, are part of Greece’s long-term defense plan. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias recently visited the Carlo Margottini frigate docked in Piraeus to assess its operational capabilities, signalling strong interest in the vessels. The frigates, nearly a decade old, are equipped with advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems. Read more

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