Rafael recently presented the Spider air defense system to the Greek Air Force during a meeting with senior officials from the company, as reported by the Bulgarian Military website. During the meeting, Micha Ron, an executive at Rafael, showcased the advanced capabilities of the system and garnered interest from Greek officials.
The interest in the Spider system came two and a half months after Greece approved a deal to purchase 40 F-35 fighter jets from America for approximately 8.6 billion euros. Meanwhile, Turkey has strengthened its ties with the Biden administration and is expected to purchase F-16 aircraft and upgrade packages from the US for 20 billion dollars.
The Spider air defense system is known for its advanced capabilities and is currently in operational use in several armies around the world. The system provides defense solutions against various aerial threats such as drones, airplanes, helicopters, and long-range ballistic missiles using interceptors made by Rafael.
Rafael recently introduced a new configuration for the Spider system called All in One configuration that includes an integrated radar, electro-optical payload, command and control system, and interceptors all on one vehicle. This configuration offers optimal air defense for point defense or protection against maneuvering forces and can be operated by a minimal team of operators.
In January 2021, Israel conducted a successful test of Spider system in its new configuration demonstrating its capability to intercept a UAV in challenging operational scenario with direct hit accuracy. The system has proven effective in various scenarios making it a valuable asset for countries looking to enhance their air defense capabilities.
Turkey’s advanced drone manufacturing industry poses a significant threat to its neighbors including Greece due to their active use in military operations and high demand globally. As tensions continue to rise between Turkey and Greece over territorial disputes, countries like Greece are exploring options to strengthen their defense systems against potential threats.
The sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece marks an important step towards modernizing Greece’s military capabilities while Turkey’s procurement of F-16 aircraft highlights growing competition between these two neighboring countries for regional dominance.
As tensions rise between these two countries it is clear that both will need robust defense systems capable of countering any potential threat posed by their neighbors or other global actors alike.
