Yerevan or Kyiv: Which Country Will Greece Transfer Its Russian Air Defense Systems To?

Greece is preparing to transfer the S-300 and two other Russian-made weapons, which were used for the country’s air defense, to Armenia, replacing them with Israeli-made systems. This is reported by the Greek Enikos portal.

The leadership of the Greek armed forces is determined to remove Russian weapons from the Greek military arsenal and fundamentally replace the old systems with new Western technologies. According to the portal, “The Hellenic National Defense General Staff is in the advanced stages of providing Armenia with Russian-made weapon systems.”

The portal notes that “previously it was assumed that these systems could be transferred to Ukraine, but the General Staff is considering other, equally beneficial options.” According to available information, the strengthening of Armenia’s defense is not solely a Greek initiative but also a result of cooperation with France, which will contribute to this country’s armament, the publication adds.

“For Athens, strengthening Yerevan instead of Kyiv is a strategic choice for many reasons. First and foremost, due to the very close allied ties, shared efforts in modern history, as well as common religious beliefs. Additionally, a strong Armenia will counterbalance the irreconcilable Turkey, which openly strengthens Azerbaijan,” the portal states.

The Israeli-made air defense systems, which are set to replace the Russian systems in Greece, include the “David's Sling” with ballistic missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers, the “Barak MX” with a range of 35 to 150 kilometers, and the “Spyder” with a range of 20 to 50 kilometers.