Greece has recently made a significant announcement, as have the companies Rafael and Elbit Systems, regarding a major defense deal. This agreement entails the sale of Rampage missiles and 'SPICE' bombs to Greece, with a total value of approximately 180 million euros (equivalent to about NIS 725 million).
Elbit Systems will be providing Rampage missiles, which are supersonic surface-to-air missiles with an impressive range exceeding 150 kilometers. Their primary advantage lies in their capability to neutralize enemy air defenses or targets while keeping the soldiers launching them out of the range of anti-aircraft missiles.
Elbit Systems has achieved an incredible feat in establishing a world-class flight school on Greek soil, and the story is nothing short of inspiring.
ā Elbit Systems (@ElbitSystemsLtd) September 26, 2023
Read the full story here: https://t.co/QHgp30GY28 pic.twitter.com/kxSpsepamH
On the other hand, Rafael will supply SPICE bombs, specifically designed for precision attacks on fixed targets. These bombs will replace the existing munitions in the Greek Air Force's arsenal. What sets them apart is their remarkable precision in targeting. Notably, this weapon system excels in destroying enemy targets with utmost accuracy even in operational environments where GPS cannot be employed.
The inclusion of INS/GPS-assisted autonomous navigation ensures the positive identification of targets. The guidance kits intended for 1,000-pound (MK-83) bombs are known as SPICE-1000, while those for SPICE-2000 are utilized with 2,000-pound (MK-84/BLU-109) bombs. Greece has confirmed that both the Rampage missiles and SPICE bombs can be seamlessly integrated into the F-16 aircraft within the Greek Air Force's fleet.
Over the past decade, Greece has significantly increased its defense spending as a percentage of its GDP, soaring from around 1.5% to over 3.5% today. This has expanded its defense budget to an estimated 8 billion dollars. The driving force behind this surge is the escalating tensions with neighboring Turkey, largely due to disputed access to gas deposits in the Aegean Sea.
During previous episodes of tension between Turkey and Greece, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan disparaged the capabilities of the Greek military, labeling them as "fragile." However, recent years have seen Greece undertake a robust effort to strengthen its armed forces, partly in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This development underscores the realization that the era of warfare is far from over.
×××××: ×××× ××ש×Ø× ××××Ø×× × ×Ø×ש ××ד××× ××××Ŗ×× ×× ××ד×× ××Ø×× ××ש×Ø×× https://t.co/JQH8BEAbRo pic.twitter.com/BnYGTgqeqJ
ā ×ש×Ø×× ×××¤× ×” (@IsraelD_Heb) September 30, 2023
Additionally, the shortage of ammunition in Europe has raised concerns among Ukraine's allies. Recent reports suggest that Europe's diminished military industry will struggle to supply the necessary artillery shells and tanks to Ukraine. Consequently, Israeli companies like Elbit and Rafael have witnessed substantial benefits from European deals in recent months.
