Greece is preparing to spend 30 billion euros on defense procurement programs over the next decade, and industry figures say the key question is not just which weapons the country buys, but how much of that spending turns into production, technical know-how and jobs for Greek companies.
The Achilles Shield program is expected to serve as one of the first major tests of this new approach, according to figures in the Greek defense industry.
Greek Dome program targets 700 million to 750 million euros
Under the Greek Dome program, worth about 3 billion euros, planners have set a target of at least 25% Greek industrial participation, equivalent to between 700 million and 750 million euros of the total contract value.
Industry executives cited in the report said the aim is to stop that percentage from being treated as a simple accounting figure, and instead use it as the starting point for building a genuine Greek supply chain in the defense sector.
Know-how over cash, executives say
Several Greek defense industry executives have said the real value of these programs for local companies does not lie only in how many millions they collect. It lies in whether Greek firms gain technical know-how, certifications, production experience and access to international supply chains.
Executives also stressed the importance of Greek companies reinvesting in that experience, so they are positioned to compete for the next round of procurement programs once this one is complete.
A decade of rearmament
Greece, a NATO member in the eastern Mediterranean, has been expanding its defense budget in recent years as part of a broader military modernization drive. The 30 billion euro spending plan places the country among the more active European buyers of new weapons systems over the coming decade.
For Greek defense contractors, programs such as the Greek Dome are being watched closely as an early indicator of how far the government's stated 25% domestic participation target will translate into lasting industrial capacity rather than a one-off contract payment.
