Greece agrees up to $4 billion US arms deal, sources say
Greece moves ahead with major US defence procurement package
Bdbusinessdaily.com – Greece has agreed to pursue a defence package worth as much as $4 billion, covering additional upgrades for its F-16 fighter fleet and the purchase of advanced US-made missiles and bombs. The plan comes as Athens accelerates a broader overhaul of its armed forces after years of constrained spending during the country’s debt crisis.
The agreement follows a visit to Athens by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met Greek officials as the two NATO partners expanded cooperation on security matters. Much of the new procurement is expected to be financed over several years rather than creating an immediate burden on public finances.
F-16 Viper upgrades and new weapons
A central element of the package is the further modernisation of Greece’s F-16 aircraft. Greece has already been upgrading roughly 82 F-16s to the advanced Viper configuration and now intends to convert another 37 Block 50 jets. That additional upgrade programme is estimated to cost about $1 billion.
The Viper version is intended to extend the operational life and capabilities of the existing fleet, allowing aircraft already in Greek service to receive more modern systems. The agreement also includes advanced munitions for F-16 Vipers, F-35 fighters and Black Hawk helicopters.
The agreement includes new advanced missiles and bombs for the F-16 Viper, the F-35 fighter jets, and the Black Hawk helicopters. Also the upgrade of old F-16 fighter jets to Viper version.
Officials indicated that the purchases are largely included in the government’s multi-year defence planning, meaning the expenditure has been anticipated within the country’s wider programme rather than being treated as an entirely new financial commitment.
Part of a wider military modernisation drive
The proposed spending adds to a far-reaching Greek rearmament effort scheduled to run through 2036. Athens has outlined plans to spend about €28 billion during that period on equipment, aircraft, helicopters and air-defence capabilities.
In 2024, Greece agreed to acquire 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets and 35 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The latest arrangement links the incoming systems with Greece’s current aircraft fleet, combining new platforms with upgrades to equipment already operated by the armed forces.
Greece is also developing the “Achilles Shield,” a layered anti-ballistic and anti-aircraft defence system that will include Israeli-made weapons. The programme reflects a focus on air security, missile defence and the ability to integrate multiple types of military equipment.
For Greece, the F-16 upgrades are particularly significant because they preserve the role of a large existing fighter fleet while F-35 deliveries and other acquisitions move forward. Modernising established aircraft can help maintain operational capacity during a transition to newer systems.
Security cooperation with Washington
Rubio said during his Athens visit that Greece and the United States had reached a joint security arrangement aimed at improving counterterrorism information sharing between their law-enforcement agencies. The defence agreement and the security plan underline the breadth of cooperation between the two countries, both members of NATO.
Greece has long maintained higher defence expenditure as a share of national output than many NATO countries. Defence spending is close to 3.5% of gross domestic product, reflecting the country’s security priorities and its long-running dispute with neighbouring Turkey.
The current procurement programme also marks a notable shift from the period following Greece’s 2009-18 debt crisis. Years of austerity placed significant limits on public spending, but the government is now committing to a long-term approach that combines military investment with payments spread across several years.
While the full timing of each purchase was not detailed, the scale of the programme suggests that Greece’s modernisation effort will remain a major component of its defence policy for years to come. The focus on upgraded fighter jets, precision weapons, helicopters and integrated air defences points to an effort to strengthen both immediate readiness and longer-term deterrence.
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