Greece in talks to procure Israeli air defense systems

The Gaza ceasefire is holding, Turkey continues its regional aggression, and both issues have prompted Greece, according to reports in the country, to accelerate talks to buy three Israeli air defense systems from Israel for 3 billion euros. The systems, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, will create a new multi-layered defense system.

For many years, Greece has not invested in military technologies, and now finds itself at a disadvantage in general and faces the main threat, Türkiye in particular. The huge investment will initially cover only the regions of Thrace and the eastern Aegean Sea, with additional deals expected later with the Turkish missile threat covering the entire country. Greece is interested in the Barak MX missile defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries, the Rafael David Sling system, which is also an integral part of Israel’s multi-layered defense system, as well as the Spyder, another system manufactured by Rafael.

Barak MX has been sold to a number of countries around the world

The Barak MX system supports multiple radars and launchers for coverage against fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. The system is based on an intelligent and operationally proven control center, which allows the integration of additional interceptor missiles: the Barak MRAD short-range interceptor missile is launched vertically at high speed, adapted to deal with threats at a range of up to 35 kilometers and includes a single pulse engine-guided radar head; The Barak LRAD interceptor is a medium-range, vertically launched, high-speed interceptor, adapted to deal with threats at a range of up to 70 km, and includes a radar-guided head with a dual pulse motor; The Barak ER interceptor system is a long-range, vertically launched interceptor missile that includes a booster motor, a dual-pulse rocket motor, and an advanced radar head. The Barak ER’s interception range is increased by adding a missile booster and modifying its communications and radar capabilities to a range of up to 150 kilometres.

All thrusters for interceptor missiles are manufactured by the Israeli state company Tomer, which is the source of national knowledge in this field. The only model used in the Israeli air defense system is the LRAD, which is used on Saar 6 ships. IAI’s Barak MX system has been sold to a number of countries around the world, including Azerbaijan, which bought it in November 2024 for $1.2 billion.

Spyder – All in One

Rafael presented its Spyder system to the Hellenic Air Force High Command in April 2024. The system, which has also attracted interest from other customers such as Kenya, is already in use by several countries – including the Czech Republic. Spider is a defense system that provides air defense solutions at different ranges and against a variety of air threats, including drones, aircraft, helicopters and short-range ballistic missiles.

The system intercepts threats using two families of interceptors manufactured by Rafael – the Python and Derby. A few months ago, Rafael presented the comprehensive configuration of the Spider system, which provides a complete air defense system including: integrated radar, dedicated electro-optical payload, advanced command and control system, and Python and Derby interceptor missiles, all mounted on just one vehicle. In January 2024, Rafael, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense (DRDO) Research and Development Organization (MAFAT), completed the trial of the all-in-one SPYDER system.

This configuration constitutes an ideal air defense solution for point defense or as air defense for maneuver forces, as part of a SPYDER battery or in a stand-alone deployment with a small team of operators. In a trial conducted in January in Israel, several scenarios simulating current and future threats were tested, as the SPYDER system, in its new configuration, intercepted a drone in a difficult operational scenario with a direct and precise strike. Reports say that Greece is planning to deploy the Barak MX system throughout mainland Greece in all its ranges: MRAD, LRAD and ER. The Spyder’s versatility will be used to deploy batteries on the Aegean islands up to Crete.

Mid-Range Tier: David’s Slingshot

Between the top-tier Barak MX and the lower-tier Spyder is David’s Sling, which was sold to Finland in August 2023 for €316 million. The system’s range reaches 300 kilometers, its speed is 2.55 kilometers per second (Mach 7.5), and the interceptor costs $700,000. Its first operational interception was before the war, in May 2023, as part of the operation in Gaza against the Islamic Jihad movement.

David’s Sling is interesting on the global stage because it also has maneuverability capabilities and is suitable for intercepting cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. The system also reflects local Israeli cooperation: it includes the MMR radar developed by IAI subsidiary Elta, and the Golden Almond command and control system developed by Elbit’s Elisra unit.

The success of David’s Sling led to the Department of Defense deciding in May 2024 to withdraw the US Patriot batteries from service, an achievement for Rafael that made international headlines. The decision stems in part from the fact that David’s Sling is a national system – that is, one system covers the territory of a country – while the Patriot system relies on batteries that cover only a specific area.

David’s Sling is a product very close to the PAC3 level, and is the most advanced interceptor in the Patriot series, but in contrast, the Israeli interceptor is cheaper. Thus each PAC3 interceptor costs an estimated $6 million, while intercepting David’s Sling costs Israel about $700,000. Additionally, a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as of December 2022 found that purchasing a new Patriot battery costs $1.1 billion, while David’s Sling system was sold to Finland for $353 million.

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on November 12, 2025.

© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2025.