Greece on Monday signed a deal to buy rocket-launchers from Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, turning to a close security partner to beef up its air defences. According to a Greek source with knowledge of the deal, the contract signed on Monday provides for the purchase of some 690 million euros' ($797 million) worth of Elbit's Precise & Universal Launching System (PULS).
Quoted in a Greek government statement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the agreement "reflects the deepening of the strategic security partnership between Israel and Greece and the profound confidence in the capabilities of the Israeli defence establishment".
In 2024, Greece announced a plan to splash 26 billion euros by 2036 to modernise its armed forces, including by replacing now-obsolete air-defence systems with up-to-date versions.
Under conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens has increased its cooperation with Israel on defence matters, with both sides finding common ground over their shared tensions with Turkey.
While generally a staunch ally of Israel, Mitsotakis has however warned that the country risks losing friends as a result of the war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Several Elbit System sites in Europe have been targeted by demonstrators protesting against the firm's role in the Gaza conflict.
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Elbit Systems
