S-300 missile system © Pavel Lisitsyn / Sputnik
Greece has agreed to a United States proposal to transfer or sell its Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine in exchange for an assistance package amounting to $200 million, Kathimerini reported on January 28.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already given instructions regarding the transfer of systems and equipment that are not being used by the Hellenic Army to Ukraine, according to the Greek newspaper.
Before this, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a letter to Mitsotakis proposing to transfer or sell the weapons in exchange for assistance from Washington to the tune of $200 million.
“We continue to be interested in the defense capabilities that Greece might transfer or sell to Ukraine. If these are of interest to Ukraine and pending an evaluation by the US government of their condition and value, we can explore the possibilities of potential additional funding for the Greek armed forces up to the amount of 200 million dollars,” the Blinken said in the letter.
In the letter, it is stated that as part of an expedited Excess Defence Articles (EDA) procedure, the Hellenic Army will receive two C-130H Hercules aircraft, ten engines for P-3B Orion aircraft, and 60 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Athens will also have the opportunity to acquire up to 40 new F-35 aircraft, three Protector class patrol boats and a variety of vehicles.
The consideration of requests for the supply of four LCS [Littoral Combat Ships], deliveries of KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft and new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft is mentioned.
The Hellenic Army can transfer a wide array of Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine, including highly-capable air defenses systems.
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) maintains a regiment made up of four S-300PMU-1 long-range air defense systems with eight fire units and 32 launchers on Crete. The S-300PMU-1 can fire the 48N6 family of missiles, which has a range of up to 195 kilometers. Greece received at least 175 missiles from Russia along with its systems.
In addition, HAF operates four Tor-M1 systems with 16 missile launchers, while the Hellenic Army operates 21 systems with 84 launchers. The Tor-M1 has a range of 12 kilometers. The Hellenic Army also operates 39 Osa-AKM systems with at least 120 launchers. The system has a range of 15 kilometers.
Greece supplied Ukraine with loads of weapons, including dozens of infantry fighting vehicles and hundreds of anti-tank rockets, after the the start of the Russian special military operation. The decision to provide more advanced weapons to the Kiev regime, specifically ones which were originally supplied by Moscow, will further deteriorate relations with Moscow. However, it will not likely change much on the battlefield.
