Written by Maral Kaplan
Greece is engaged in the modernisation of its military forces amid the war in Ukraine and the tensions with Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. In this regard, the Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS) and Nexter signed a strategic partnership to modernise and strengthen the Greek army’s infantry vehicles fleet.
In a statement released on 1 April 2022, Nexter claimed that it concluded a strategic partnership agreement with the Greek authorities. This deal will provide Greece VBCI-MkII infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), named Philoctetes after the hero of the Troyan wars. These are 32-tonne 8×8 military vehicles, modular, equipped with a T40 turret, 600hp engine and with carrying capabilities of a 13-tonne payload. Being already used on the field by the French army, Nexter’s VBCI was first presented at the Defence Exhibition Athens in July 2021. The quick conclusion of this agreement between Nexter and the Hellenic Defence systems, a state-owned company, reflects the strengthening of the Franco-Greek relations in the military field in a tense international context (European Defense Review, 2022).
The announcement of this partnership with Nexter comes after Athens’ approval of its naval modernisation in February 2021. The Hellenic Navy concluded a prominent agreement of an estimated 3.5 billion dollars with the French shipbuilder Naval Group. The deal includes the purchase of three frigates with an option for a fourth one and support services. Highlighting the strategic partnership between France and Greece, the first two ships are expected to be delivered by 2025 and the last one by 2026. This modernisation represents the biggest one for the country’s naval forces in 20 years. (Katz, 2022)
Bibliography
European Defense Review. (2022, 6 April). Nexter and Hellenic Defence Systems sign a strategic partnership for the modernisation of the Greek Army’s infantry fighting vehicles fleet. European Defense Review. Available at: https://www.edrmagazine.eu/nexter-and-hellenic-defence-systems-sign-a-strategic-partnership-for-the-modernisation-of-the-greek-armys-infantry-fighting-vehicles-fleet Katz.
J. (2022, 25 March). Naval Group, Greece ink deal for three frigates, one optional add. Breaking Defense. Available at:https://breakingdefense.com/2022/03/naval-group-greece-ink-deal-for-three-frigates-one-optional-add/
