The Greek Ministry of National Defence (MND) has announced the procurement of Spike guided missiles with a contract value of EUR370 M. Manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 10 April 2023 that the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Major General (ret) Eyal Zamir, and the Greek Director of the General Directorate of Defence Investment and Armament, Vice Admiral (ret) Aristeidis Alexopulos, had signed an intergovernmental agreement for the export of Spike missiles for naval, air and land forces.
Spike anti-tank guided missiles are innovative and precise electro-optical missiles equipped with state-of-the-art technology, according to Rafael. Spike missiles are certainly versatile; they have been qualified for launch from about 45 different platforms on land, in the air and at sea.
According to available information, 100 Spike-NLOS missiles will be used to up-arm nine Greek AH-64A attack helicopters, while 17 Spike NLOS systems with 340 missiles are to be procured to equip Hellenic Army anti-tank units. Four Spike NLOS systems will be fitted to patrol boats and four Spike ER2 systems with 55 missiles will arm fast patrol boats.
Zamir assessed the agreement with the Greek MND as a further expression of the strategic partnership between Israel and Greece, while Major General (ret) Yoav Har-Even, CEO and President of Rafael, was quoted as saying, “The Spike missiles will strengthen the Greek army’s portfolio of operational assets and we expect further expansion through strategic co-operation in the near future.”
Gerhard Heiming
