Greece considers sending S‑300 missile systems to aid Ukraine
Greek authorities are changing their approach to aiding Ukraine. They announce additional weapon transfers, which may even include S-300 missile systems. These weapons would be a significant reinforcement for the army fighting the Russians.
Although Greece is considered an ally of Ukraine, the possibility of handing over the S-300 missile systems had been ruled out until now. The situation began to change after the events of March 6th. During Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with the Greek Prime Minister in Odessa, there was a Russian attack. According to media reports, one of the missiles fell just about 150 meters from the Greek delegation.
will the Greek S-300s end up in Ukraine?
Shortly after, information emerged that Greece would send to Ukraine additional anti-tank ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as several dozen M114A1 howitzers. At the same time, the discussion on sending the S-300 missile systems to Ukraine flared up again.
– "The novelty is the change of tone in national media reports about such a possibility," said George Tzogopoulos, a senior fellow at the Centre International de Formation Européenne, in an interview with Business Insider.
Several launchers and hundreds of missiles dedicated to them are being considered. It's possible that in exchange for giving them to Ukraine, Greece would receive American Patriot systems.
"The attack in Odessa was a personal shock for the Greek delegation visiting Ukraine. However, strategic decisions are not made based on personal experiences. Greece values its strategic relations with the USA, which is why the tone of media discussion about sending the S-300 to Ukraine could be better formulated," added Tzogopoulos.
S-300 missile systems
The S-300 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system. Its history dates back to the late 1960s. Although it already has a successor, it can still pose a serious threat, as evidenced by the war in Ukraine, where both sides use it. It's also significant that the Greeks most likely also possess upgraded variants of S-300PMU-1.
With the S-300, targets can be hit at distances of up to about 200 km and at altitudes over 27,000 meters. The S-300 missiles dedicated to this system have fairly large fragmentation-blast warheads. In some versions, they weigh even 180 kg, thus providing significant striking power. Once fired, they reach speeds of up to about 1,500 m/s.
The S-300PMU-1 variants are characterised by better radars and the ability to use a wider range of missiles.
