Greece plans to buy Switchblade drones from the United States to further strengthen its armed forces, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
The Switchblade, made by AeroVironment, Inc., flies to a target and detonates. It has gained attention because the Ukrainian military is using them to strike Russian troops.
More than 700 Switchblade 300 drones were sent to Ukraine by the United States as part of an arms package after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Greece to buy drones small enough to fit in a backpack
Switchblade is a miniature loitering munition and used by several branches of the United States military.
Small enough to fit in a backpack, the Switchblade launches from a tube, flies to the target area, and crashes into its target while detonating its explosive warhead. The name Switchblade comes from how the spring-loaded wings are folded inside a tube and flipped out once released.
“We have selected the Switchblade type from the U.S.,” a Greek official with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. The source did not specify how many Athens would buy.
A second official said that the cost will be 75.2 million euros. The source said the chiefs of staff approved two types of Switchblade with a range of up to 20 km (12 miles) and up to 40 km.
The supply will complement the country’s Spike anti-tank missiles that Athens agreed to purchase from Israel and plans to send to its islands in the Aegean. Athens also plans to produce its own drone and anti-drone systems, Reuters notes.
The procurement of Switchblades must be also approved by Greece’s top decision-making body on foreign affairs and defense matters, KYSEA.
Greece’s defense modernization
Athens has drafted a multi-billion, 10-year purchasing plan that includes acquiring up to 40 new F-35 fighter jets from the U.S.
Greece finalized its intention to procure 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale in July. The LOA also includes an option for 20 additional aircraft.
In January 2024 the U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of up to forty F-35 fighter jets and respective equipment to Greece in an $8.6 billion deal.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a video statement that, as part of the deal, the Greek state will also receive significant military aid at no extra cost. This would include frigates, C-130 transport aircraft, armored tanks, and vehicles.
Greece will also buy three frigates from France. The launching ceremony of the first frigate named “Kimon” took place in the Naval Group shipyard of Lorient, France last year.
The Kimon frigate, together with the “Nearchos” and “Formionas” frigates, “will spearhead the Greek Navy”, Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias said.
