Greece is partnering with Israel to develop advanced capabilities against drone swarms and cyber threats. This partnership strengthens security in the eastern Mediterranean in the face of regional tensions and developments in modern warfare.
Summary
Israel and Greece announced a cooperation agreement on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity on January 20, 2026. Defense Ministers Nikos Dendias and Israel Katz met in Athens to exchange expertise and know-how on combating swarms of aerial and underwater drones. This initiative is part of deeper defense ties, including joint exercises and an Israeli air training center in Greece. Greece is investing heavily in its military modernization with a 2025 budget of €6.1 billion and a multi-year plan of €25-28 billion through 2036. Combat-proven Israeli technologies, such as multi-sensor detection systems and directed energy weapons, offer Greece an effective response to the cheap swarms that saturate conventional defenses. Israel gains a strategic export market while both countries strengthen their regional stability in the face of proxies and disputes in the Aegean Sea. Europe views this bilateral alliance with pragmatism, as Greece is a member of NATO and the European Union. This partnership illustrates the rise of asymmetric threats and the need for innovative solutions.
The geopolitical context of this agreement
The meeting on January 20, 2026, in Athens marks a concrete step forward. Nikos Dendias, Greek Minister of Defense, and Israel Katz, his Israeli counterpart, openly discussed the need to counter unmanned platforms. They emphasized swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles and groups of unmanned underwater vehicles. This cooperation expands on a December 2025 pact between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. The latter covers joint military exercises, strategic consultations, and maritime security.
Tensions persist in the Aegean Sea. Greece and Turkey are disputing maritime borders and offshore resources. Turkey is deploying combat drones such as the Bayraktar TB2 in several regional conflicts. Israel brings its unique experience to the table. Its forces have intercepted thousands of drones and missiles in recent clashes with Iranian-backed groups. This combat-proven expertise is invaluable to Athens. Mediterranean stability remains the shared goal. Katz has described this partnership as an anchor of stability in the region. Both countries refuse to allow destabilizing actors to gain ground through terror or proxies in the Mediterranean basin.
The threats posed by drone swarms
Drone swarms represent a major evolution in modern warfare. They consist of groups of dozens or hundreds of coordinated, often small and inexpensive, aircraft. Each individual drone costs a few thousand euros, but their sheer number can overwhelm traditional defenses. They are used for reconnaissance, saturation attacks, or to overwhelm command systems.
Swarms use artificial intelligence for real-time coordination. They communicate via radio links or mesh networks. Partial jamming can be enough to disrupt them. Israel has faced such massive attacks. In just a few years, thousands of drones and rockets have targeted its territory. Conventional systems such as surface-to-air missiles are quickly exhausted in the face of this saturation. Greece fears the same scenario in a hypothetical conflict in the Aegean Sea. Unmanned underwater vehicles add a naval dimension. They threaten surface fleets and offshore infrastructure. This asymmetric threat is forcing a rapid adaptation of military doctrines.
Cutting-edge Israeli technologies for anti-drone warfare
Israel excels in anti-drone systems thanks to decades of development. The Rafael company offers Drone Dome, a comprehensive countermeasure system.
It combines radars, electro-optical and infrared sensors, and radio frequency signal detectors. These sensors fuse data via artificial intelligence to detect, track, and classify threats up to several kilometers away. Neutralization is achieved through communication jamming or cyber control. Kinetic or directed energy options complete the arsenal.
The Iron Beam is a decisive breakthrough. This high-energy laser delivers power in the order of 100 kilowatts. It destroys the drone’s structure in a matter of seconds through intense heating. Unlike missiles, each shot costs only a few dollars. The system is perfectly suited to swarms as it recharges instantly and engages multiple targets sequentially with no ammunition limit. Rafael and Elbit Systems are co-developing this technology. It integrates with the existing Iron Dome to form a multi-layered defense. Other systems such as the Barak MX and Spyder, already acquired by Greece, reinforce medium-range interception. Integration into the Achilles’ Shield network creates layered protection against drones, missiles, and aircraft.
Europe’s position on this cooperation
Greece belongs to the European Union and NATO. These memberships impose diplomatic constraints. The EU sometimes maintains restrictions on arms exports to Israel due to regional conflicts. However, bilateral cooperation remains authorized. It responds to legitimate security needs. France and Germany also supply equipment to Greece. Israel’s contribution is distinguished by its unique expertise in drones.
NATO encourages the interoperability of defense systems. Israeli technologies are integrated with allied standards. The United States provides indirect support through funding for projects such as Iron Beam. Europe observes with pragmatism. Asymmetric threats transcend political divisions. Greece is modernizing its forces to become one of the most technologically advanced armies on the continent. This bilateral partnership complements collective efforts without replacing them.
Mutual benefits and budgetary investments
Greece gains direct access to battle-tested technologies. Its recent acquisitions already include Israeli systems worth several billion dollars. The 2025-2036 modernization plan provides for €25-28 billion in investments. The annual defense budget will rise to €6.1 billion in 2025, a significant increase. Athens has approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems for €650 million. It is also integrating the Barak MX, David’s Sling, and Spyder systems into its air defense shield for approximately $3.5 billion.
Israel is consolidating its defense exports. The sector is worth tens of billions of dollars annually worldwide. Greece offers a stable market in Europe. The partnership strengthens Israeli influence in the eastern Mediterranean. Joint exercises and the training center improve the operational capabilities of both armies. The exchange of expertise in cybersecurity protects critical shared infrastructure.
Concrete implementation of the fight against swarms
Cooperation translates into practical exchanges. Israeli experts will train Greek operators in multi-sensor detection systems. They will share broadband jamming protocols to disrupt swarm coordination. The integration of directed energy lasers will enable interceptions at marginal cost. Greek forces will test these tools in joint exercises simulating saturation attacks.
Artificial intelligence will play a central role. It prioritizes threats, merges radar and passive sensor data, and proposes automated countermeasures. For underwater vehicles, acoustic detection and underwater neutralization systems will complete the arsenal. Cybersecurity will include command link protection and network resilience. This multi-layered approach avoids dependence on a single technology. It ensures a scalable response to swarms of varying sizes.
The threat of drone swarms will not disappear. It requires a constant race for innovation. The alliance between Israel and Greece demonstrates how nations facing similar challenges can pool their expertise to anticipate future conflicts. The rise of artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons is redefining the balance of power in the Mediterranean. This dynamic is prompting Europe to rethink its collective defense strategies in the face of growing asymmetries. (approximately 1,250 words)
Sources:
Associated Press, January 20, 2026
The Jerusalem Post, January 20, 2026
Greek Reporter, January 20, 2026
Budget data from official Greek reports and SIPRI analyses 2024-2025
Technical documentation from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems (official websites)
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.