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South Korea has reportedly submitted three comprehensive defense cooperation proposals to Greece, including submarine construction with cruise and ballistic strike capabilities, as part of Seoul's broader push to enter Europe's €800 billion ($930 billion) rearmament program.
Greek daily Ekathimerini reported that South Korea had submitted several defense cooperation proposals to Athens, with the latest focusing on the construction and co-production of KSS-III submarines, also known as the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class.
The KSS-III submarines, fully designed and built by South Korean industry, represent the new generation of conventionally powered submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy. With a submerged displacement of 3,705 tons and a length of 83.5 meters, they feature a propulsion system combining diesel batteries and domestically produced fuel cells, enabling underwater endurance of around 20 days.
The submarines can carry Chonryong cruise missiles and are equipped with a vertical launch system designed to accommodate Hyunmoo 4-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, with a range of around 500 kilometers and a payload of one ton.
This configuration provides sea-based land-attack capability, integrated into South Korea's Massive Punishment and Retaliation strategy.
The South Korean proposal, led by Hanwha Ocean, includes modernization of Greece's four Papanikolis, also known as Type 214, a diesel-electric submarines and delivery of four KSS-III units, along with technology transfer for local construction and a minimum 25% participation of the Greek defense industry, in line with new requirements from the Greek Ministry of Defense.
Greek defense officials have praised South Korean technology for its high quality. They requested a detailed proposal outlining co-production terms and submarine upgrades in Greek shipyards, with a minimum 25% participation by the local defense industry.
Earlier, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) proposed the production of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) systems in Greece. These "Loyal Wingman" systems pair unmanned combat drones with manned aircraft and are currently being developed for South Korea's KF-21 fighter jets.
A third proposal calls for supplying and co-producing military vehicles in Greece to replace the Greek Army’s aging fleet. As the largest branch of the Armed Forces, the army faces significant daily transportation demands, while its general-purpose vehicles are notably outdated.
Athens has already expressed interest in developing such a program if the budget allows.
Greek authorities have noted that the proposals align with the Long-Term Armament Planning framework. Officials have urged further discussions at higher levels to explore potential agreements.
Athens has requested detailed technical, industrial, and financial terms for this cooperation, with emphasis on domestic production.
Greek officials noted that all submitted proposals contain particular elements that could offer added value both to the strength of the Greek Armed Forces and to Greek industry. They recommended holding higher-level talks in the coming period to assess whether some of these proposals can move forward, in alignment with overall Armed Forces planning.
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