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According to the Greek media, Washington proposed Athens to transfer the Greek S-300 and Tor-M1 air defense systems to Ukraine and replace them with modern systems of NATO standards at the expense of the US military assistance. Athens reportedly accepted the deal and the negotiations with Washington are to begin in the near future.
Two divisions of the S-300 air defense systems were purchased to Cyprus under the contract signed in 1996. However, as a result of pressure from the US and Turkey, their adoption into service with the Armed Forces was blockaded and the purchased systems were stored in warehouse in 1998. After Greece got the rights to the systems from Cyprus, the Russian-made S-300 were deployed with the Greek Armed Forces. After Greece got the rights to the systems from Cyprus, the Russian-made S-300 were deployed with the Greek Armed Forces on Crete.
Greece also bought 31 Tor-M1 air defense systems in Russia, six of which were transferred to Cyprus in 2006 in exchange to the rights to the S-300 air defense system.
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Athens has reportedly accepted the American proposal, triggering a radical change in the air defense structure of the Greek Armed Forces, which is becoming crucial amid Turkish threats and the in-depth integration of UAVs into provocations against Greece.
Earlier, the proposal of the Ukrainian military to get Greek air defense systems in exchange for their maintenance in Ukrainian facilities was rejected for two main reasons. Firstly, because Russia still maintains the End User license agreement, which means that Greece cannot export this industrial product to a third party without Moscow’s permission. Moreover, it is not at all clear whether Ukrainian factories are able to undertake such a project while the country is still at war.
Secondly, Greece cannot create gaps in its air defenses, especially if there is no possibility to replace them immediately. These arguments have also been fully understood by the Americans.
Through the FMF (Foreign Military Financing) financial tool, in addition to American systems that will replace Russian weapons, the gradual renewal of the helicopter fleet of the Greek Army, the Air Force and the Navy may also follow amid the military cooperation between the two countries, Greek sources report.
It is not clear which systems will replace the Russian-made anti-aircraft systems in Greece. Athens is being pushed to get rid of Russian air defense systems due to the impossibility of their normal maintenance under the conditions of sanctions imposed against Russia.
This is not for the first time, the United States has used a similar scheme of arms supplies to Ukraine. Soviet and Russian weapons are bought or exchanged for Western systems, and the purchased Russian weapons are delivered to Kiev. With a high degree of probability, the US deal with Greece will be a success, because being a member of NATO, Athens will accept any conditions laid down by Washington.
