The website of the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Greece is close to purchasing 40 PULS multiple rocket launchers from Elbit Systems, with the price expected to be between 500 million and 700 million euros. The purchase is aimed at deterring Turkey in the Evros region and islands in the Aegean Sea that border Turkey.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who has had close ties to the Israeli government for years, is expected to announce a major procurement program over the next 12 years in February. The Greek government aims to start building up its artillery forces as early as this year, and plans to submit a plan to relevant parliamentary committees this quarter.
A senior military official who spoke to Kathimerini said Greece aims to develop artillery capabilities with a range of up to 300 kilometers. He said the selection process is at an advanced stage and Elbit’s PULS is the leading candidate. The system can launch unguided rockets, precision weapons, and missiles at various distances. The launcher is fully adaptable to existing platforms, whether wheeled or tracked, significantly reducing maintenance and training costs.
The Greek military plans to purchase six types of ammunition for the European version of the PULS launcher (Euro PULS), which will allow it to threaten targets from 35 to 300 kilometers away. Greece is also looking to buy Elbit’s Sky Striker loitering bomb, which can be launched from the same launcher at a range of up to 100 kilometers and can carry a warhead of 5 to 10 kilograms.
Turkey’s hostility towards both Greece and Israel has led to closer defense cooperation between the two countries in the past few months. This is reflected in talks on building a multi-layered air defense array based on Israeli systems. Greek business website NewMoney recently reported that Greece is seeking price quotes for Israeli Aerospace Industries’ integrated radar and air defense system Barak MX and Rafael’s SPYDER. Neither system is used by IDF. David’s Sling, a medium- and long-range air defense system jointly developed by Rafael and Raytheon of the United States, used in Israel, and sold to Finland, does not appear in the report, but Greece is seeking three-layer air defense. , defense systems can be expected to be included in any transaction.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on January 5, 2025.
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