Reuters on Friday reported that the Greek government is in “advanced talks” with Israeli defense contractors to purchase 36 PULS multiple rocket launchers, quoting two officials. With a dateline given as Athens, the report implies that the two officials are Greek.
The new service cited talks over a deal worth 600-700 million euros, a development that coincides with Athens’ keen interest in purchasing a two-billion-euro “Iron Dome”-type anti-aircraft and anti-drone system from Israel.
Reuters quotes the two officials as saying the Mitsotakis government will present an agreement to a relevant parliamentary committee for initial approval in the first three months of 2025.
Greece has been modernizing its armed forces, especially the air force and navy, over the past five years amid regional instability and what it deems as standing Turkish belligerence – despite a notable ‘thaw’ in bilateral relations with Ankara over the past year.
The Hellenic Air Force has already acquired a squadron of French-made Rafale warplanes and is set to receive a first batch of F-35s in coming years. Four new state-of-the-art French frigates have also been ordered, with the first one expected to be delivered, quite possibly, next year. The modernization program comes after more than a decade of stagnant spending on new defense and weapons systems by Greece.
The PULS system, which stands for “Precise & Universal Launching System”, is made by Israel’s Elbit. It has a range of up to 300 kilometers.
Reuters also reported that the prospective deal includes off-sets for the Greek side, such as domestic production of some components.
