Greece will buy American drones, Reuters sources say

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece plans to buy Switchblade drones from the United States to bolster its armed forces as it recovers from a decade-long debt crisis, two sources said on Wednesday.

Athens has drawn up a multibillion-dollar, 10-year procurement plan that includes buying up to 40 new F-35 fighter jets from the US and three frigates from France.

Switchblade, made by AeroVironment (NASDAQ: ), Inc., flies to a target and detonates. It has attracted attention because the Ukrainian military uses them to hit Russian troops.

“We have selected the Switchblade type from the US,” a Greek official familiar with the matter told Reuters. The source did not specify how many Athens would buy.

A second official said the cost would be 75.2 million euros. The source said the chiefs of staff approved two types of Switchblade with a range of up to 20 km (12 miles) and up to 40 km.

The supply will complement the country’s Spike anti-tank missiles that Athens has agreed to buy from Israel and plans to send to its Aegean islands. Athens also plans to produce its own drone and anti-drone systems.

NATO allies Greece and Turkey have long been at loggerheads over issues including where their continental shelves begin and end, energy resources, flights over the Aegean Sea and the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.

The acquisition of Switchblades must also be approved by KYSEA, Greece’s top foreign affairs and defense decision-making body.