Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias announced that on Monday, 16 March, a series of key defense initiatives had been submitted for review to the Special Permanent Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.

In a statement outlining the scope of the new armaments program, Dendias said the projects demonstrated how early the government had recognized the changing security landscape. He noted that the planning had been based on what he described as a “wide-angle reading” of the emerging security environment.

Their implementation, he suggested, would usher the Greek Armed Forces into a new era—one in which they would become the strongest in the country’s history. At the same time, he stressed that the security provided to Greek society would be more essential than ever.

Presenting the initiatives, the minister emphasized that all the programs form part of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning, itself a pillar of the broader “Agenda 2030”. Within this framework, he highlighted the extensive upgrade of the country’s air-defense capabilities through the creation of a multi-layered mechanism designed to counter aerial threats.

According to Dendias, this capability constitutes a central component of the “Achilles Shield”, a new deterrence program intended to protect the country from modern airborne threats.

He argued that the necessity of such a system had been clearly demonstrated in recent conflict zones. Greece, he said, was moving toward the creation of a comprehensive protective dome over its territory, capable of addressing a wide spectrum of threats—including aircraft, drones, missiles and ballistic missiles. Greek companies, he added, would participate in the production of these systems with a share of at least 25 percent.

Among the programs submitted to the parliamentary committee is also the development of infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational integration of F-35 fighter jets. Dendias noted that the F-35 should not be viewed simply as aircraft but as advanced platforms that would introduce the Hellenic Air Force to a new technological era.

The proposal package further includes the upgrade of approximately 40 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration, a move that would bring the total number of Greek F-16 Vipers to more than 100. In addition, the minister referred to the modernization of MEKO-class frigates, a project expected to involve Greek shipyards, as well as a range of “Follow-On Support” programs for aircraft fleets, including transport aircraft such as the C-27.