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Greece secures 36 PULS rocket launchers from Israel with 300 km strike range in $750 million deal.
Greece has contracted Israel’s Elbit Systems to deliver 36 PULS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) under a $750 million agreement, significantly expanding the Hellenic Armed Forces’ long-range precision strike capability up to 300 km.
Confirmed on April 7, 2026, the deal introduces deep-strike artillery capable of engaging high-value targets at extended distances, strengthening Greece’s operational reach across the Aegean and beyond. The program includes launchers, precision-guided munitions, and a ten-year sustainment package, with deliveries expected to begin within 18 months and initial operational capability projected by 2027.
The PULS also reduces training time for Greek crews already familiar with MLRS systems, such as the M-270 and RM-70, enabling faster operational deployment and integration into existing artillery units without extensive retraining programs. (Picture source: Dutch MoD)
On April 7, 2026, Elbit Systems confirmed the award of a contract valued at $750 million, or €650 million, to supply PULS multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRS) to the Hellenic Armed Forces under a bilateral agreement between Israel and Greece, with execution scheduled over four years and a ten-year follow-on support phase. The announcement, which reportedly covers 36 launchers, associated munitions, training, and sustainment, follows approval by Greek authorities in December 2025 after negotiations that began in 2024. Deliveries are expected to begin within 18 months of contract signature, with initial systems projected to enter service by late 2027, forming part of a broader €28 billion modernization plan extending to 2036 and aimed at restructuring long-range fires and integrated air defense capabilities.
The contractual framework is based on a government-to-government model involving the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense, consolidating procurement, training, and lifecycle support within a single agreement identified as 0009A/26 in Greek planning. The scope includes launcher systems, command and control elements, training packages, and a ten-year sustainment arrangement covering maintenance, spare parts, and upgrades. The program integrates with Greece’s existing artillery structure, which currently operates M270 MLRS and RM-70 systems, allowing partial continuity in doctrine and personnel training. The agreement also reflects a procurement trend in Europe favoring bundled acquisition and sustainment contracts rather than fragmented purchases of equipment and services.
The PULS system originates from the Lynx multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) developed by Israel Military Industries and later modernized by Elbit Systems after the 2018 acquisition of IMI. The system uses a dual-pod configuration capable of carrying different rocket and missile types, including 122 mm Grad, 160 mm Accular, 306 mm EXTRA, and 370 mm Predator Hawk munitions, with maximum ranges from 35 km to 300 km and beyond depending on configuration. Each launcher can carry up to 36 short-range rockets or four long-range tactical missiles, with GPS and inertial guidance providing accuracy within a 10 m CEP for precision munitions. The system entered operational service with Israeli forces in 2020 and has since been selected by several European users, including the Netherlands and Denmark, indicating gradual adoption within NATO-aligned forces.
The munition package included in the Greek contract covers a full spectrum of operational needs, including training rockets for routine exercises and precision-guided munitions for operational deployment across multiple range brackets. Short-range Accular rockets provide coverage up to 35 to 40 km, while EXTRA rockets extend reach to 150 km, and Predator Hawk missiles enable strikes beyond 300 km, introducing a deep-strike capability not previously available in Greek rocket artillery units. The inclusion of loitering munitions such as SkyStriker, with ranges exceeding 100 km, allows for combined reconnaissance and strike missions, enabling engagement of mobile targets and providing flexibility in contested environments where real-time targeting is required.
Integration of the PULS launchers is based on compatibility with existing wheeled and tracked carriers, with Greece planning to mount the systems on 6x6 truck chassis, including IVECO vehicles, reducing the need for new dedicated platforms. This approach lowers integration costs and allows the use of existing logistics and maintenance infrastructure, while also shortening training cycles for personnel familiar with similar systems. The modular design enables rapid reconfiguration of launchers between different munition types, reducing the number of specialized systems required within artillery units and allowing operational units to adjust loadouts based on mission requirements without structural modification.
Operationally, the introduction of PULS provides the Hellenic Armed Forces with a precision strike capability exceeding 300 km, extending the role of artillery into strategic targeting domains such as airbases, logistics nodes, and command infrastructure. This capability is intended to complement Greece’s planned multi-layered air and missile defense architecture, known as the “Achilles Shield,” and to integrate with joint force elements through digital communication systems such as Link-16. The system is expected to be deployed in key geographic areas, including the northeastern border region and the eastern Aegean islands, contributing to deterrence by enabling long-range engagement without forward deployment of artillery units.
Industrial participation is structured to include Greek defense companies such as METKA, Miltech, and Hellenic Defence Systems, with local industry expected to account for at least 25% of the program value through component manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance activities. The agreement includes technology transfer provisions covering selected subsystems, electronics, and support infrastructure, enabling local production and long-term sustainment capabilities. Maintenance and certification of munitions are expected to take place within Greece, and future upgrades will be made available to Greek-operated systems, ensuring alignment with evolving system configurations and operational requirements.
At the strategic level, the contract reflects a continuation of defense cooperation between Israel and Greece that has expanded since 2020, including joint training activities and industrial collaboration projects such as the Kalamata flight training center. Greece’s selection of PULS over competing systems, including European alternatives, is linked to cost considerations and the availability of technology transfer, with total program cost remaining within the €650 to €700 million range identified during negotiations. The acquisition aligns with a broader European shift toward precision, long-range artillery systems, driven by operational requirements emphasizing deep-strike capability, rapid deployment, and interoperability within NATO frameworks.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.