Israel and Greece Discuss Joint Production of Long-Range Ballistic Missiles
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israel and Greece are in advanced talks for the joint production of IAI's "Laura" ballistic missiles in Greece, aiming to enhance Greek deterrence against Turkey. Greece has recently made significant defense purchases from Israel, including artillery and air defense systems. Morocco and India are also reportedly interested in acquiring or producing similar Israeli missile technology, highlighting a broader trend of defense cooperation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel and Greece are negotiating joint production of "Laura" ballistic missiles in Greece.
- Greece seeks to bolster deterrence against Turkey with missiles having a range of over 500 km.
- Greece has recently purchased billions of dollars in Israeli defense systems, including artillery and air defense.
- Morocco is also interested in acquiring "Laura" ballistic missiles from Israel.
- India is seeking to produce Israeli "Air Laura" and "Ice Breaker" missiles.
- IAI aims for local industrial cooperation and technology transfer in these potential deals.
Negotiations between Israel and Greece are progressing towards the potential joint production of IAI's "Laura" series ballistic missiles on Greek soil, according to the Greek website Nemesis HD. This development comes as Greece seeks to bolster its deterrence capabilities against Turkey, with the "Laura" missile's demonstrated range of approximately 500 kilometers or more, exceeding the 430 kilometers previously committed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Greece has recently engaged in significant defense procurement from Israel. In April, a deal worth approximately 2.3 billion shekels (650 million euros) was signed for the sale of IAI's PULS artillery systems. This was followed in August by the "Achilles Shield" agreement, valued at around 3.1 billion euros (3.6 billion dollars), for air defense systems including David's Sling, Barak MX, and Spyder.
The "Laura" missile, measuring about 5.2 meters long and weighing 1.6 tons at launch, has a range of up to 500 kilometers and an accuracy of about ten meters. It can carry various warheads up to 600 kilograms. The joint production model, similar to the "Achilles Shield" deal, would involve at least 25% of the work being transferred to Greek companies. This collaboration could also benefit Israel by diversifying and expanding its production sources during its ongoing conflict.
Morocco has also expressed interest in acquiring the "Laura" ballistic missiles to enhance its strike capabilities beyond the 300-kilometer range of its current HIMARS launchers. The missile has proven effective in combat, notably used by Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. IAI aims to foster local industrial cooperation, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer through such deals.
Additionally, India has shown interest in producing IAI's "Air Laura" and Rafael's "Ice Breaker" cruise missiles. This follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, and his Indian counterpart, Rajesh Kumar Singh, to strengthen defense ties. India's interest in "Air Laura" is driven by the success of the "Rampage" missile against Pakistan, but "Air Laura" offers a longer range, enabling Indian aircraft to strike targets without risking exposure to Pakistani air defenses.