Greece to deploy missile systems across Aegean islands, DM Dendias announces
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias outlined a major shift in Athens’ defense strategy, announcing plans to deploy mobile missile systems across hundreds of Aegean islands. Speaking at an event in Athens titled “Greece in the World Perspective,” Dendias described Türkiye as the “greatest threat” to Greece despite both countries being NATO members since 1952.
Under the new doctrine, traditional divisions of responsibility—army for land, navy for sea, and air force for airspace—will be replaced with a more integrated, missile-focused approach. Dendias said relying solely on naval forces in the Aegean is “meaningless” in the face of modern threats. The new strategy would allow Greece to extend missile coverage across the islands, freeing the navy from operating only in limited waters.
The minister unveiled the “Achilles’ Shield” project, which will deploy five types of missile systems to Aegean islands and areas near the Türkiye–Greece land border. The initiative is intended to secure both airspace and maritime routes through land-based air defense assets.
According to turkiyetoday, Dendias also stressed the importance of countering drone threats, citing Türkiye’s development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He said Greece will train all soldiers in UAV operations and deploy the anti-drone system “Kentavros” on frigates and adapted for land use.
Additional plans include expanding the reserve force to 250,000 personnel with 150,000 new volunteers, and acquiring Bergamini-class frigates from Italy capable of launching long-range missiles up to 1,500 kilometers across the Eastern Mediterranean.
