In a significant move to bolster its maritime defense capabilities, Greece has signed an agreement with France to acquire 16 Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles. The deal, formalized in Athens on April 14, 2025, by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, marks the latest step in Greece’s ambitious €25 billion (approximately US$28.21 billion) defense modernization plan set to unfold over the next decade.
The Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles, developed by European arms manufacturer MBDA, are renowned for their precision and sea-skimming capabilities, with an operational range of approximately 200 kilometers. Designed primarily for coastal defense and sea-denial operations, these missiles are expected to enhance Greece’s deterrence posture in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region marked by longstanding maritime disputes and competing territorial claims.
This acquisition is part of a broader series of high-profile procurements from France, including 24 Rafale fighter jets, three Belharra-class frigates, and NH-90 transport helicopters. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing for a potential fourth frigate. These agreements underscore the deepening Franco-Hellenic defense partnership, institutionalized by a landmark 2021 strategic agreement that includes a mutual defense clause—a rare provision among European Union member states .
Greece’s defense modernization initiative, valued at €25 billion, aims to transform its armed forces into a technologically advanced and autonomous military. The plan encompasses the procurement of new submarines, drones, and the development of advanced anti-aircraft and anti-drone defense systems. Additionally, Greece is exploring the acquisition of two used ‘Bergamini’ class frigates from Italy, further diversifying its naval capabilities .
The modernization drive is a response to years of underinvestment in defense during Greece’s economic crisis from 2010 to 2018. During this period, many of Greece’s defense platforms became outdated, and logistical chains suffered. The current initiative seeks to reverse these setbacks by investing in next-generation systems capable of meeting the demands of emerging warfare.
In a parallel development, India has taken steps to promote its BrahMos cruise missile to Greece as part of a broader effort to strengthen defense and security ties. The supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeniya, has attracted global attention for its speed, precision, and adaptability. Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3 and striking targets over 500 kilometers away, the BrahMos offers a range and velocity advantage over subsonic systems like the Exocet.
Greek defense analysts and retired military officials have endorsed the potential acquisition of the BrahMos missile system. Media commentaries and think tank publications have argued that BrahMos could offer Greece a decisive edge in contested maritime zones, particularly in the Eastern Aegean. Two Greek academics, Emmanuel Marios Economou and Nikos K. Kyriazis of the University of Thessaly, have advocated for deploying BrahMos on Greece’s eastern Aegean islands to create a “denial and prohibition of maritime access” for the Turkish Navy.
However, as of now, there is no formal agreement between Athens and New Delhi regarding a BrahMos purchase. Procuring BrahMos would represent a potential break from Greece’s traditional defense sourcing strategy, which has long been centered around NATO interoperability. Since BrahMos is a product of India-Russia collaboration, its integration could face compatibility challenges with existing NATO systems. Moreover, Greece’s political support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict complicates any engagement with systems involving Russian technology.
During his visit, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu also met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, further emphasizing the strategic alignment between Athens and Paris. The agreement was announced without public disclosure of its financial value, in line with a recent pattern in Greece’s defense procurements where cost details have been withheld.
Greece’s defense modernization efforts are not solely focused on acquisitions. The country is also expanding military cooperation with Israel and the United States, including joint military exercises, intelligence-sharing frameworks, and defense technology transfers. These partnerships form the basis of Athens’s effort to build a multi-layered security architecture that is not only reactive but also forward-looking.
Despite being NATO partners, Greece and Turkey remain locked in long-standing disputes over maritime boundaries, airspace, and energy exploration rights. These disputes have repeatedly brought the two nations to the brink of armed confrontation over the past several decades . Greek Defense Minister Dendias has not explicitly framed Greece’s modernization as a reaction to Turkey. Yet his recent remark—“Greece does not threaten, but is threatened”—indicates how the Greek leadership views its evolving security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a recent address to the Greek Parliament, Defense Minister Dendias outlined a new strategic vision that emphasizes a transition away from conventional defense systems toward a fully digitized and technologically advanced military. This shift is not merely aspirational but grounded in necessity. Between 2010 and 2018, Greece’s armed forces experienced a prolonged period of underfunding due to the national debt crisis. Many of its defense platforms became outdated, and logistical chains suffered. The current modernization drive aims to reverse these setbacks by investing in next-generation systems that can meet the demands of emerging warfare.
Ultimately, Greece’s strategy is clear: maintain deterrence by achieving a technological edge, expanding strategic partnerships, and accelerating defense modernization.
