Greece to spend €25 billion over next decade on hi-tech overhaul of military

Greece will spend €25 billion over the next decade to adapt its military to evolving high-tech warfare technologies, officials have said.

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias told parliament the overhaul will be built around a planned air defence system called "Achilles Shield," primarily aimed at addressing tensions with neighbouring 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 defence systems to a high-tech, networked strategy centreed on mobile, AI-powered missile systems, drone technologies, and advanced command units, reducing reliance on conventional fleets.

The plan also includes new programmes such as next-generation troop gear equipped with sensors and communication systems and the development of dedicated satellite capabilities to ensure secure communications during conflict.

"What we are proposing is an existential issue for the country — a complete shift in our defence approach, a total change in doctrine," Dendias said.

"We're moving away from the traditional thinking that the Aegean is defended solely by the fleet."

The overhaul, which will be presented to lawmakers behind closed doors in the coming weeks, also involves greater inclusion of local tech start-ups and a major personnel reorganisation; merging units, closing underused bases and addressing a top-heavy command structure.

The initiative comes as European countries ramp up military spending in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and indications that the Trump administration wants to reduce the United States' commitment to European defence.

Greece's modernisation drive, launched after years of defence cuts during the 2010–2018 financial crisis, already includes all branches of the armed forces and focuses on cooperation with France, Israel and the United States.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli defence officials in Israel on Sunday.

And on Wednesday, he dismissed calls by some opposition parties to abandon plans to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets in favour of European alternatives, describing the program as an important "long-term investment."