The Intergovernmental Agreement between the Ministry of National Defence and the Israeli party regarding the development of the anti-aircraft, anti-ballistic, anti-drone dome (“Achilles’ Shield”) containing a unified and holistic Command & Control System was signed today in Tel Aviv. On behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, the Agreement, in which the immediate commencement of the programme’s implementation is provided, was signed by the General Director of Defence Investments and Armaments, Major General Ioannis Bouras.
On behalf of the Israeli party, the Agreement was signed by the General Director of the Ministry of Defence, Amir Baram, the Director of the International DefenceCooperation Directorate (SIBAT) of the Ministry of Defence, Yair Kulas, the Head of the Defence Research and Development Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, Daniel Gold, the Director of the Israeli Missile Defence Organisation, Moshe Patel, the CEO of Rafael, Yoav Tourgeman, the CEO of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), Guy Barlev, as well as other officials.
The total budget of the programme is three billion thirty-five million Euros (€3,035,000,000). The framework of the programme’s implementation includes the participation of the Hellenic defence and technological ecosystem, with 19 Greek companies already participating in the relevant procedures. The participation percentage exceeds 25% and, in particular, seven hundred and fifty million Euros (€750,000,000). Furthermore, the creation of a production base with export potential in Greece is also provided.
The Dome is the integral part of the “Agenda 2030” reform, for the necessity of which the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, stated:
“We are living in times of radical changes. Modern conflicts have already changed the parameters of military defence and deterrence.
Technology, ballistic missiles, satellite communications, unmanned aerial systems, cyber-threats, hybrid warfare, and the linking of operational fields have long rendered the existing defence doctrines completely obsolete.
With this in mind, we are completely reforming the foundations of the Armed Forces, being absolutely aware of and understanding the dysfunctionalities of the past and our attachments to it.
Greece is the first country of the EU that adopts such a model.
The rapid change of everything is the necessary term for national survival against revisionism and ever-developing threats”.
