Recently, senior officials from Rafael visited Athens for a meeting with the Greek Air Force’s high command to discuss the company’s latest product, the “Spider” air defense system. The system, which has already been successfully deployed in several countries around the world, received interest from Greek officials following their approval of the sale of 40 F-35 fighter jets to Greece by the American Secretary of State. The deal is estimated to cost around 8.6 billion euros.
Meanwhile, Turkey has been strengthening its ties with the Biden administration and is expected to purchase F-16 aircraft and upgrade packages from the US for $20 billion. This move highlights the growing military competition between Greece and Turkey in the region.
During the meeting, Micha Ron, an executive at Rafael, presented an overview of the Spider system’s advanced capabilities and demonstrated how it could effectively counter various aerial threats such as drones, airplanes, helicopters, and long-range ballistic missiles. The system uses interceptors made by Rafael to neutralize these threats.
Rafael recently introduced a new configuration for the Spider system called All in One 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 a successful test conducted in Israel in January 2021, the Spider system in its new configuration demonstrated its ability to accurately intercept a UAV in challenging operational scenarios with a direct hit. The system has proven effective in various scenarios making it a valuable asset for countries looking to enhance their air defense capabilities.
Greece’s interest in strengthening its defense systems comes at a time when tensions between Greece and Turkey continue to rise over territorial disputes and maritime rights issues. As such, countries like Greece are exploring options such as purchasing advanced drone manufacturing industries that threaten their neighbors’ security.
In conclusion, Rafael’s presentation of its “Spider” air defense system sparked interest among Greek officials who were looking for options to enhance their country’s security posture against potential threats from neighboring countries like Turkey’s advanced drone manufacturing industry.
