Greece Boosts Air Force with Israeli Weapons Amid Fears of Turkey Receiving F-35 Jets
At the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to reconsider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. This potential sale has raised significant concerns in Israel, which fears it could undermine its aerial qualitative edge. Greece and Cyprus share these worries, especially as Greece is set to receive its first F-35 next year.
In response to the Turkish threat, the Greek Air Force plans to enhance its F-16 strike capabilities this year with advanced Israeli-made weaponry. According to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Greece is finalizing certification for Israeli Rampage and Spice systems, expected within weeks, with final tests possibly concluding by September. Greece purchased these systems about three years ago for approximately $140 million in a discreet deal, reflecting political sensitivities with Ankara just before the outbreak of war.
The Rampage system, developed jointly by Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Tomer, integrates with various Greek Air Force aircraft and targets ranges between 150 and 250 kilometers. The Spice family, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, offers precise, autonomous air-to-ground munitions capable of navigating without GPS, achieving accuracy within three meters. Both systems have been used effectively by the Israeli and Indian air forces.
Athens is also seeking to upgrade 38 F-16 jets, with a potential $1 billion deal expected to expand its fleet to 120 modern F-16s from the current 56. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faces a delicate position, balancing NATO membership with Turkey against EU ties, limiting his ability to openly oppose the F-35 sale to Ankara.
Beyond air force enhancements, Greece is integrating Rafael’s Spike NLOS anti-tank missiles near its Turkish border and in the eastern Aegean islands, with plans to equip naval vessels and Apache helicopters. Additionally, Elbit Systems recently secured a $650 million contract to supply PULS artillery rocket systems to the Greek army.
A major pending deal is the $3 billion sale of Israel’s "Iron Dome" air defense systems to Greece, which is progressing slowly amid political uncertainties, including possible early elections in Greece. This multilayered defense system includes David’s Sling for high-altitude threats, Barak MX for mid-range defense, and the Spyder system for low-level protection, recently sold to Romania in a separate large contract.
Israeli Ambassador to Athens Noam Katz criticized Turkey’s destabilizing policies under President Erdogan, emphasizing Israel’s concerns about hostile rhetoric potentially escalating into actions threatening regional peace. The ongoing military cooperation between Israel and Greece underscores their shared strategic interests amid rising tensions with Turkey.
