Greece will begin considering a plan to purchase new-generation submarines to replace the country’s ageing navy vessels, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Monday.
“We are starting discussions on the acquisition of new submarines, which will probably take about a decade to implement. The production of such vessels is not a quick process,” Dendias said during a visit to the naval base in the port of Piraeus.
The minister stressed that all purchases will be made strictly within the limits of available financial resources and with maximum transparency: “Every euro spent must be fully justified and understandable to taxpayers.” He did not disclose any further details about the planned programme.
The initiative to strengthen maritime defence is aimed at maintaining Greece’s strategic advantage in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. This step is part of a large-scale national defence modernisation programme designed to respond to regional security challenges.
Earlier, the Greek authorities announced plans to invest €25 billion over the next ten years in modernising the army, taking into account new military technologies.
The reform, which became necessary after significant defence budget cuts during the 2010-2018 financial crisis, is built around a new air defence system called the “Achilles Shield,” which aims to reduce tensions with Turkey.
The modernisation covers all branches of the armed forces and involves active co-operation with France, Israel and the US.
