It has become known that Greece is considering the possibility of modernizing all its Patriot SAM systems to the most modern PAC-3 variant. In particular, Greece currently has six Patriot batteries in the PAC-2 variant.
Greece is reportedly negotiating with Saudi Arabia to finance the modernization of all its Patriot systems, the cost of which, excluding ammunition, is estimated at 300-350 million dollars. However, it seems that Saudi Arabia itself is considering the possibility of upgrading only the Greek Patriot battery located there. This is reported by the Kathimerini.
Read more: Patriot, David's Sling, or SAMP/T: What Can €1 Billion Buy Against Iskander-M, Kinzhal Missiles?
From Defense Express, we recall that Greece, as part of the ELDYSA mission (Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia), deployed one Patriot SAM battery in Western Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast, covering a city with a large oil refinery.
This Patriot battery only recently, during the American Operation Epic Fury, underwent its baptism of fire. Then it first intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile, and then, they boasted that they also intercepted a drone using a Patriot.
The Patriot upgrade to the PAC-3 variant will significantly improve the combat capabilities of the system, and most importantly, it will open up the possibility of using more powerful MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement) surface-to-air missiles, which are designed specifically to intercept ballistic missiles.
Along with the desire to upgrade the Patriot to the PAC-3 variant, the Greeks also want to purchase MSE missiles. This will further increase the demand for these missiles in the world and increase their shortage, which has only been growing since the start of Operation Epic Fury.
For Ukraine, this is another signal that the situation with the supply of MSE missiles, which are so critically needed to intercept russian ballistic and hypersonic missiles, will become even more complicated in the future. Therefore, Ukraine needs to quickly create a system now that can replace the Patriot as a shield against ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Let us recall that Greece is currently actively strengthening its own ballistic missile defense capabilities by ordering a large number of Israeli Barak MX and David's Sling air defense systems for a total of 3 billion euros. That is why Athens' desire to modernize Patriot is inextricably linked to the intention to do so with minimal financial costs.
Read more: Considering Supplying David's Sling to Ukraine: A Potential Alternative to Patriot and SAMP/T Systems
