Greece is close to purchasing 40 PULS multiple rocket launchers from Elbit Systems, in a deal worth between 500 and 700 million euros, according to the website of the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. The purchase aims to deter Türkiye in the Evros region bordering Turkey and on islands in the Aegean Sea.
Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who has had a close relationship with Israeli governments for several years, is expected to present a major procurement program in February that will extend over the next 12 years. As early as this year, the Greek government seeks to begin enhancing the country’s artillery capabilities, and is expected to submit a plan to the relevant parliamentary committee in the current quarter.
A senior military source who spoke to Kathimerini website said that Greece aims to develop artillery capabilities with a range of up to 300 kilometers. He said that the selection process has reached an advanced stage, and that Elbit’s PULS program is the main candidate. The system can launch unguided missiles, precision munitions, and missiles at different ranges. The launcher is fully adaptable to existing platforms, whether wheeled or tracked, significantly reducing the cost of maintenance and training.
The Greek Army plans to purchase six types of ammunition for the European version of the PULS launcher, which will enable it to threaten targets at a distance of between 35 and 300 kilometers. The Greeks are also seeking to purchase Elbit’s SkyStriker loitering munition, which can be fired from the same launcher at a range of up to 100 km and can carry a 5-10 kg warhead.
Türkiye’s hostility to both Greece and Israel has led to closer defense cooperation between the two countries in the past few months. This is reflected in talks about creating a multi-layered air defense complex based on Israeli systems. Greek business website NewMoney recently reported that Greece has requested price estimates for IAI’s Barak MX integrated radar and air defense system and the Rafael Spyder. Neither system is used by the IDF. The medium- to long-range “David’s Sling” air defense system, jointly developed by Rafael and the US company Raytheon, which is in use in Israel and sold to Finland, does not appear in the report, but since Greece is seeking the system A three-layer air defense system is expected to be included in any deal.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on January 5, 2025.
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