Home Θέματα Διεθνή Achilles Shield: Who Owns and Controls the Source Code, Greece or Israel?

Achilles Shield: Who Owns and Controls the Source Code, Greece or Israel?

September 10, 2026

ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ

Greece controls the system’s central C2 software, but not the proprietary code inside the Israeli weapons

By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team

Greece’s approximately €3 billion “Achilles Shield” program is not a single weapons system. It is an integrated air- and missile-defense network incorporating Israeli systems including SPYDER, David’s Sling, BARAK MX and ELTA radars, connected through a central Command-and-Control (C2) architecture.

The controversy arose after an Israeli official stated that Greece would not receive the source code of Israel’s existing weapons systems. This appeared to conflict with Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias’ position that Greece must retain control of the software governing its national air-defense architecture.

Israel subsequently clarified that a new, dedicated Greek source code will be developed for the central C2 system, reportedly by SCYTALYS in cooperation with Rafael, with Israeli technology and know-how transferred to support the project. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, this code—including future modifications—will remain under “exclusive Greek control.”

The distinction is therefore crucial:

Greek-controlled: the central C2/integration software—the “brain” connecting sensors, radars and weapons across Achilles Shield.
Israeli proprietary: the underlying software, algorithms and source code inside systems such as SPYDER, David’s Sling, BARAK MX and ELTA radars.
Operational consequence: Greece gains substantial autonomy over integration, configuration and future development of the overall defence network, but will still depend on Israeli manufacturers for certain deep upgrades or modifications to individual Israeli systems.

Bottom line: Greece does not receive or own all the source code behind Achilles Shield. Instead, it will control the newly developed Greek C2 layer that integrates the system, while the proprietary software embedded in the Israeli weapons and sensors remains with their Israeli manufacturers. One further distinction should be kept in mind: publicly available statements confirm “exclusive Greek control” of the new C2 code, but the unpublished contractual documents would be needed to establish the precise legal ownership of its intellectual-property rights.