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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the state-run Israeli defense contractor, announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to sell its BlueWhale autonomous submarine system, also known as BlueWhale extra large uncrewed undersea vehicle (XLUUV), to the Greek navy.
The announcement was made in conjunction with the DEFEA 2025 defense exhibition in Athens.
While financial details of the deal were not disclosed, IAI emphasized that the BlueWhale system is designed to carry out a wide array of covert maritime missions, including intelligence gathering above the sea surface, detection of submarines and underwater targets, acoustic intelligence collection, and mine detection on the seabed.
The BlueWhale is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) weighing 5.5 tons. According to IAI, the system is capable of performing a significant portion of a traditional crewed submarine's operations and can remain operational for several weeks at a time. The company stated, "The system has been successfully deployed for thousands of diving hours."
As part of the agreement, Greece’s state-owned Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) will play a key role in the production and technological evolution of the BlueWhale system.
"HAI will have access to IAI’s technology, with opportunities for technology transfer and active involvement in projects of substantial operational significance," IAI said in a statement.
Also at DEFEA 2025, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems presented a modernized M113 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) configuration aimed at the Greek Army. The upgrade includes blast mitigation and kinetic energy threat protection developed by Israeli firm Plasan, as well as Rafael’s SAMSON Mini Remote Weapon Station.
Rafael noted the turret "delivers unmatched reliability and performance in maneuver operations" and is well-suited for use in urban warfare and deep enemy territory scenarios. Sources in the Greek General Staff indicate that 300–400 units may be upgraded initially, with a long-term goal of modernizing up to 500 M113 vehicles.
IAI also showcased a range of its defense systems at the Athens event, including the Barak air defense system, Arrow missile defense system, LORA missile, Mini Harpy loitering munition, and Heron MKII drone.
The Greek Air Force currently operates IAI’s Heron unmanned aerial systems (UAV) through a leasing agreement established between the Greek and Israeli defense ministries. In 2023, IAI acquired Greek defense company Intracom Defense, a major subcontractor for firms such as MBDA, Diehl Defence, and Raytheon.
Attending the DEFEA-Defence Exhibition in Athens, the Israeli ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, stated, "The strong presence of top Israeli defense companies showcases not only Israel’s cutting-edge capabilities, but also the deep strategic partnership between Israel and Greece."
As Defence Industry Europe recently reported, Greece is considering acquiring IAI's Barak air defense system as part of the €25 billion ($28 billion) Achilles Shield modernization program. Additionally, the Arrow missile defense system—currently in service with the Israel Defense Forces and soon to be deployed by the German Armed Forces—is among the offerings proposed to the Greek Armed Forces.
Germany signed a nearly €4 billion contract with Israel in September 2024 to procure the Arrow 3 system, which will form the top layer of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
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