Greece and Cyprus are in advanced talks with Israel to deploy an anti-aircraft and missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome.
According to a report by Cyprus’ Sigma Channel, most of the components of the system have arrived on the island which could become operational in 2025.
Cyprus is acquiring a sophisticated air defense system, which costs hundreds of millions, to protect against a wide range of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets and missiles.
The future goal is to add other systems that will enhance the capabilities of intercepting drones, such as unmanned aircraft, according to the report.
Cyprus’ Iron Dome would be compatible with Greece’s
Moreover, the new air defense system of the Republic will be fully compatible with the Iron Dome that Greece is building in parallel, also in cooperation with the Israelis, the report adds.
In Greece, air defense, according to the Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, will be completed in about two and a half to three years, when a single umbrella will be created from Cyprus, Crete, and the entire Aegean.
This new anti-aircraft umbrella that Greece will acquire was presented last month by Dendias prior to the Greek Parliament.
The defenses would likely mimic Israel’s Iron Dome and other systems that intercept short- and long-range missiles launched during strikes from its neighbors amid the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
“The plan is to create a multi-layer anti-aircraft and anti-drone system,” one source with knowledge of the issue told Reuters after a closed-door briefing with Dendias. “We are in discussions with Israel,” the source said.
Plan in Greece is “underway”
Greece plans to deploy an anti-drone system similar to the Israeli Iron Dome, Dendias said recently, adding that the “plan is underway.”
He stressed that by observing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, it was determined Greece needs anti-aircraft and anti-drone coverage. “It won’t happen tomorrow, but it will happen. There is a significant expenditure foreseen for this purpose,” he added.
As he noted, “Turkey has taken steps to produce drones, but Greece did not foresee [until now] that this gap in the defense capabilities should be bridged.”
The Iron Dome is a central component of Israel’s air defense system. Developed by Israel with US backing, it specializes in shooting down short-range rockets. It has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was activated early last decade, including thousands of interceptions during the current war against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israel says it has a success rate of over 90 percent.
Related: Iron Beam: The Laser Missile Defense System of Israel
