A massive defense export deal worth about 1.4 billion NIS was signed between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Greek Ministry of Defense. In the deal, it was agreed on the purchase of 'Spike' missiles manufactured by Rafael, a military manufacturing company established by the Israeli government as their defense research and development arm. This deal comes as another major defensive equipment deal was signed between Israel and Finland, who most recently joined NATO.
The director general of the Ministry of Defense, Major General (retired) Eyal Zamir and the head of the Greek procurement directorate, Vice Admiral (retired) Aristeidis Alexopulos signed an agreement between the two countries for the export of naval, aerial, and land-based spike missiles manufactured by the Rafael company. The agreement is estimated at a huge amount of about 1.44 billion NIS, or about 370 million Euros, and was led by the Israeli defense export division of the Ministry of Defense.
Greece buys Rafael's Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel in $403mn deal. #Greece #Rafael #SpikeMissile #Israel #Defence #AntiTankMissiles https://t.co/V7uasL7sXL
— Republic (@republic) April 11, 2023
The Spike missile, called “Tamuz” in Hebrew, is an innovative and precise electro-optical missile, with breakthrough technology. The Spike missiles can be launched from about 45 platforms on land, sea, and air. Over 40 countries around the world use the Spike missiles, including 19 EU countries and NATO allies. More than 34,000 missiles from the "Spike" family have already been delivered to various countries around the world and more than 6,000 of them have been fired, both as part of a training routine and In operational use on the battlefield.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant congratulated the employees of the Ministry of Defense and Rafael after the huge deal was signed and said: "The technological strength of the security system enables Israel to achieve political and economic achievements. The current deal, which joins a series of deals signed recently, testifies to the strong partnership between the countries and between the security systems and their commitment to work to ensure stability in the area".
Despite the recent easing of tensions between #Greece and #Turkey, Greece is continuing to bolster its military capabilities through a $400 million deal to purchase anti-tank Spike missiles from #Israel’s state defense contractor Rafael. https://t.co/6iYDVrJEVF
— The National Herald (@NationalHerald) April 10, 2023
Director General of the Ministry of Defense Eyal Zamir said: "The agreement with the Greek Ministry of Defense is another expression of the strategic partnership between the countries. It joins a series of collaborations worth billions of NIS, which we have signed in recent years, the first of which is the upgrading of the capabilities of the flight school of the Greek Air Force."
The CEO of the Rafael company, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even added: "We welcome the agreement with the Greek Ministry of Defense and thank the Ministry of Defense for promoting cooperation with Greece in general and this deal in particular. The Spike missiles will enrich the army's basket of operational tools and we expect further expansion in the strategic cooperation in the near future."
