Greece approves new procurements

Greece is to start negotiations to purchase at least two Heron high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems. (IAI)

The joint chiefs of the Hellenic National Defence Forces General Staff decided on 25 September to increase the number of Greek military personnel to be assigned to missions abroad under either NATO or European Union (EU) command by up to 20%. The three armed services will now issue specific proposals on units assigned to missions abroad.

The joint chiefs also discussed armament programmes included in the armed forces' medium-term upgrade and modernisation plan. They approved the purchase of more fast-attack craft (FAC) armed with missiles. The Hellenic Navy (HN) has seven Roussen-class (Super Vita) FAC armed with Exocet missiles, and nine older Combattante IIIA- and Combattante IIIB-class ships are to be replaced in the next few years.

It was also decided that the Etna-class general support ship, HS Prometheus , would be converted into a command-and-control (C2) ship at yet-to-be decided Greek shipyards.

Another decision by the joint chiefs was to start negotiations to purchase at least two Heron high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems, two of which have been operated under lease by the 390th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron since May 2020.

The joint chiefs also decided to purchase at least two EL/M-2084 mobile radars from Israeli company Elta to improve the Hellenic Air Force's (HAF's) integrated air-surveillance capabilities.

Finally, a decision was taken to buy Stinger manportable air-defence system missiles.