Greece and Israel Deepen Defense Ties with BlueWhale System Agreement

Greece and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Athens on Wednesday to offer the Hellenic Navy the BlueWhale autonomous submarine system.

The agreement, signed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAI) during the DEFEA 2025 international Defense and Security exhibition in Athens, was hailed as a milestone in defense and business partnerships between Greece and Israel.

Leveraging EAI’s expertise in designing and constructing complex technological systems, this collaboration is set to enhance capabilities and foster innovation. Under the memorandum, EAI gains access to IAI’s cutting-edge technology, enabling know-how transfer and active participation in crucial operational projects.

“This strategic collaboration marks a step forward in strengthening Greece’s undersea defense capabilities. The potential integration and co-production of BlueWhale deepens the bilateral ties and represents a leap toward technological autonomy for our country,” said Rear Admiral (ret.) Alexandros Diakopoulos, Chairman of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry, which will take on a pivotal role in BlueWhale’s production and design.

How Israe’s BlueWhale can help Greece’s defense

Diakopoulos added that BlueWhale’s deployment will offer Hellenic Armed Forces a vessel that “combines anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”

Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), BlueWhale, is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle measuring 10.9 meters long, 1.12 meters in diameter and weighing 5.5 tons.

It sails silently and stays at sea for up to four weeks. It runs 7 knots underwater and dives 300 meters deep and carries a watertight patented mast for surface payload. This can carry antennas, including SATCOM, for real-time data exchange with mission control.

It can perform a wide range of covert maritime missions, including intelligence-gathering above the sea surface, submarines and underwater target detection, acoustic intelligence collection and search for and detect naval mines on the seabed.

The autonomous submarine also performs a significant portion of a crewed submarine’s operations for several weeks at minimal cost and maintenance, and without risking operators.

BlueWhale strengthens Greece-Israel defense ties

Speaking in Athens, IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy, expressed pride in strengthening IAI’s partnership with the Hellenic Aerospace Industry “through this strategic agreement, further enhancing the defense capabilities of Greece.”

“BlueWhale represents a transformational leap in maritime defense”, according to IAI’s Executive Vice President Dror Bar. “It delivers the advanced capabilities of a crewed submarine. Today’s MoU marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to advancing Greece’s maritime security,” he added.

Greece and Cyprus are in advanced talks with Israel to deploy an anti-aircraft and missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome.

According to a report by Cyprus’ Sigma Channel, most of the components of the system have arrived on the island which could become operational in 2025.

Cyprus is acquiring a sophisticated air defense system, which costs hundreds of millions, to protect against a wide range of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets and missiles.

In Greece, air defense, according to the Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, will be completed in about two and a half to three years, when a single umbrella will be created from Cyprus, Crete, and the entire Aegean.