Greece in talks with Israel to buy systems for ‘Achilles Shield’ air defense dome

ATHENS, Greece — Greece is in talks with Israel to buy modern missile systems that would be used for a planned anti-aircraft defense dome, two officials with knowledge of the plan tell Reuters.

Athens has said it will spend about 28 billion euros ($33 billion) by 2036 to modernize its armed forces as it emerges from a 2009-2018 debt crisis and tries to keep pace with its historic rival, Turkey.

About 3 billion euros will be used to create a multi-layer anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, called the “Achilles Shield.” It also plans to buy new stealth fighter jets, frigates and submarines from the US and Europe.

“We want to buy 36 PULS artillery systems and anti-aircraft systems for ‘Achilles Shield’. The negotiations with Israel will intensify next month,” one of the officials says, adding that Greek companies would provide about 25 percent of the project.

The cost of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems, made by Israel’s Elbit, is estimated at 650 million euros, the official says, adding that they would be used to protect Greece’s eastern borders with Turkey.