Most of the heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is either of foreign manufacture, or of foreign design, license built in Greece, in addition to several Greek-upgraded and relatively few types of Greek-developed equipment.(eBook) Countries of origin include the United States, France, Germany, Russia and others. The few domestically produced armoured vehicles include the ELBO Leonidas APC. However, in recent years, there have been some efforts for new developments by the Greek Defence Industry, such as the new Hoplite MRAP by EODH.
Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the-art to obsolescent Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired as no funds are available for upgrade. Russian made equipment was received or purchased after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and second hand US and German equipment was transferred or purchased.
Individual equipment
Model Origin Photo DetailsCamouflagesGreek Lizard Standard issue Greek Arid LizardReplacing Lizard Camouflage as announced by the Ministry of National Defence (Greece)Multicam Helmets M1 Helmet PASGT Helmet Standard issue MICH Used by Special Forces Šestan-Busch BK-ACH-HC In use by the 71st Airmobile Brigade (Greece)Tactical VestsELMON PLATE CARRIER QRIssued since 2021 DEFCON 5Used by Special Forces NVGsTheon ArgusUsed by Special ForcesTheon NyxUsed by ETATheon Mikron BNVG
Small arms and infantry support weapons
Firearms
WeaponImageOriginCartridgeNotesHandguns and submachine gunsColt M1911.45 ACPService pistol.Heckler & Koch USP 9×19mm ParabellumSIG Sauer P2299×19mm ParabellumUsed by EKAM counter-terrorist unit Glock 179×19mm ParabellumUsed by Special Forces and MarinesGlock 21.45 ACPUsed by EKAM counter-terrorist unit FN Five-seveN FN 5.7×28mmUsed by EKAM counter-terrorist unit Heckler & Koch MP59×19mm NATOSub-machinegun of typical version. Lots of its varients are used. Produced by HDS with lisence.Heckler & Koch UMP9×19mm ParabellumFN P90FN 5.7×28mmUsed by EKAM counter-terrorist unit and ETA Combat ShotgunsBenelli M4 Super 9012 gaugeUsed by EKAMAssault rifles, battle rifles and carbinesHeckler & Koch G3A3/A47.62×51mm NATOService rifle. Made under license by Hellenic Defense Systems. Sizable number of rifles equipping frontline units got upgraded with SPUHR adjustable stock, aluminum handguard with foregrip and Picatinny rails accommodating Aimpoint CompM4 Red Dot optics. To be upgraded further. A smaller number of rifles were converted to the 'Sharpshooter' version utilizing FAB Defence, MAGPUL and VORTEX OPTICS aftermarket parts."ΠΑΡΜΕΝΙΩΝ 2018: Αποκαλυπτήρια του βελτιωμένου G3" https://doureios.com/parmenion-2018-apokalyptiria-toy-veltiomenoy-g3/FN FAL7.62×51mm NATO AOR M21 5.56×45mm NATO Spotted (unconfirmed reports) in service with 1st Raider–Paratrooper Brigade (Greece)Heckler & Koch HK335.56×45mm NATOHK33E variant produced under licence by EASHeckler & Koch G365.56×45mm NATOUsed by ETAM45.56×45mm NATOM16A2s and M4s are used by the "Special Forces" branch as well as by the airborne battalions of the Hellenic Army.M16A2/A3/A4/A2E5.56×45mm NATOUsed by Marines, Airborne units and some special forces unitsJane's Special Forces Recognition Guide, Ewen Southby-Tailyour (2005) p. 446.M1 Garand.30-06 SpringfieldStill in use for ceremonial duties by the Presidential Guard and the Honor Guard of the Ministry of National Defence.Machine gunsFN Minimi5.56×45mm NATOEquipped with night vision binoculars NS467C by THEON Sensors. The first 750 pieces are available in two versions (Standard) and (PARA). The remaining 2,320 are MINIMI Mk. 2 with the same number of night-vision binoculars of third generation NS 685C made by THEON Sensors. 1,274 more on order.Heckler & Koch HK217.62×51mm NATOHK11A1 variant. Made under licenseRheinmetall MG37.62×51mm NATOLicense production by Hellenic Defence SystemsFN MAG7.62×51mm NATOFN series MAG machine guns continue to be used as highly reliable and functional, at least 1,000 in service.M60E47.62×51mm NATOUsed by Special Forces.M2 Browning.50 BMG500 fitted with a quick change barrel system.Sniper riflesHeckler & Koch G3A3ZF7.62×51mm NATOMade under license by Hellenic Defence Systems. M14 EBR 7.62×51mm NATO Used by Special Forces.M110 SASS7.62×51mm NATOKefefs7.62×51mm NATOKefefs is a Greek-made bolt-action sniper rifle designed by Hellenic Arms Industry in 1986. Used by special forces.Sako TRG M10.308 Winchester90 rifles.Steyr SSG 08.338 Lapua MagnumUsed by Special forces.Barrett MRAD7.62×51mm NATOUsed by the 32nd Marines Brigade. Barrett M82A1M .50 BMGIn 2001, an order was placed for 132 rifles of the upgraded version M82A1M (M107 in American service) to which were added one-piece Picatinny rail, monopod on the stock and various other small improvements. In October 2002 follows a new order for an additional number of M82A1M rifles (Total 200-250).Barrett M95.50 BMG
Infantry support weapons
QuantityWeaponImageOriginNotesMortars150M6C-210 60mm, range 3km.690E44-E1 EBO81mm, range 6km.158E56 EBO120mm, range 9km.150M1960mm/ to be withdrawn.2,750MO-81-6181mm, range 4.7km.M29624M30106.7mm, range 6.8km.Grenade launchers1,240M203/203PI 40mmJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). .633HK GMG40mm/ 165 mounted on M-1114GR HMMWV.?M7940mm?Mk.19 Mod.340mmAnti-tank recoilless rifles135ACL-89 STRIM89mm1,988M2 Carl-Gustav84mm, with passive night vision binoculars.?AT484mm17,706RPG-18 Mukha64mm10,841M72 LAW66mm1,346M6790mm, to be withdrawn.1,291M40A1106mmAnti-tank guided missile launchers/ Anti-armor missiles & rockets438BGM-71 TOW II400 MILAN I/IIAnti-tank guided missile, most MILAN I systems have been upgraded to MILAN II. At least 130 launchers equipped with MIRA type thermal goggles, while 147 equipped with MILIS type thermal goggles, 42 launchers are mounted on M-1025A2 HMMWV vehicles and the 248 on MB-240GD vehicles.2629K111 FagotAnti-tank guided missile from former East Germany, 262 FAGOT anti-tank systems, caliber 125mm.196 9M133 Kornet E1,100 missiles/ 98 launchers mounted on M-1114GR HMMWV.34Spike NLOS34 SandCat 350 vehicles with 10 launchers each (17 complete systems). Additional systems to equip 9 AH-64A attack helicopters, 4 Osprey 55 class gunboats (8 launchers each) with ~500 missiles in stock. Deliveries started in August 2025. -AGM-114 HellfireΑir-to-ground, anti-armor missile used by AH-64 Apaches and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters of the Hellenic Army Aviation. Over 1,353 missiles available (AGM-114F, AGM-114K II, AGM-114M II, AGM-114L types). -Hydra 70Αir-to-ground, anti-materiel rockets fired from M261 launchers mounted on AH-64 Apaches and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. 16,520 rockets acquired in 1991 and 1997.
Land vehicles and heavy armament
Main battle tanks (1,344)
Greek CFE treaty limit: 1,735 (Greece suspended its partitipation in the treaty in 7 November 2023) QuantityTypeImagesOriginNotes170Leopard 2A6 HEL120mm gun. Built under license by ELBO.183 Leopard 2A4/GR 120mm gun. Equipped with C2 systems. 123 might be upgraded to the A7 standard.501Leopard 1A5/GR 105mm gun. A number might be upgraded to the Leopard1HEL variant which includes a new 1000hp engine, a modern 105mm gun with the capability of launching barrel-launched Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), as well as advanced composite and slat armor. 390M48A5 MOLF105mm gun. Equipped with EMES-18 (MOLF) fire control system (71 M48A5 tanks in storage as of 2019).100Μ60Α3 TTS105mm gun (up to 400 Μ60 A1/A3 tanks in storage as of 2022).
Armored fighting vehicles/carriers Greek CFE treaty limit: 2,498 (IFVs / APCs).According to the CFE treaty, the Armored Combat Vehicles category includes armoured personnel carriers, armored infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy armament combat vehicles. Heavy armament combat vehicles includes vehicles that were not MBTs, APCs or AIFVs but have an integral gun of at least 75 mm caliber and weight at least 6 tons. (Greece suspended its partitipation in the treaty in 7 November 2023)
QuantityTypeImagesOriginNotesArmored infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) (181)40Marder-1A3Acquired from Germany in an exchange of 40 Greek BMP-1s with an equal number of German Marder IFVs.141BMP-1A1 Ost From the 501 BMP-1s that were ordered from Germany in 1993, around 140 BMP-1A1 Ost remained in service as of 2022. Another 44 BMP-1s were converted to ZU-23-2 carriers in Greek facilities. As of June 2022, the Greek government intended to send at least 40 BMP-1 IFVs to Ukraine as military aid. 40 vehicles have already been sent. Armored personnel carriers (APCs) (2,478)491G-127 Leonidas IIMade by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELBO, includes 90 upgraded Leonidas I.1,995M113A1/1E1,034 M113A1, 313 M113A1G (German variant of the M113A1) and 648 M113A2. Most equipped with a M2 Browning heavy machine gun, a number are equipped with a GMG grenade launcher. A wider modernization program is being considered, which will include upgrading the vehicles agility (engine assembly, transmission, suspensions) as well as the armor/protection of the APC.M113A2Armored mortar carriers (260)257M106A1/A2 120 with E-56 EBO 120mm / 137 with M29A1 mortars.3M125A1Equipped with M29A1 mortar.Armored anti-tank guided missile carriers (408)362M901A1/A2 ITVArmored BGM-71 TOW carrier, based on M113.12 M113 TOW34SandCat 350Carriers for the SPIKE NLOS launchers.Armored command vehicles (322)41M992 FDCVBuilt on the chassis of the M109-series howitzer. Ammunition support vehicles turned into fire control centres.281M577A1/A2Armoured command vehicle, based on M113. 213 units used as command stations and 68 units used as fire control centres. Armored patrol and reconnaissance vehicles (2,132)681M1025A2 HMMWV~270 built in Greece by ELVO (designations M1114GR to M1119GR).243Panhard VBL80% will be upgraded to the Ultima version. 2 vehicles have already been upgraded.1,202M1117 GuardianUnknown versions. 1,202 have been received as of August 2024.46M1059A2 SGCDelivered in 2014. Reconnaissance, smoke generator vehicle equipped with the M157A2 smoke generating system. Blocks both visual and infrared detection. Based on the chassis of the M113.8Typhoon MRAP GSS 300A total of 8 Typhoon GSS-300s were confiscated at the Piraeus customs in 2015, as they were found on a ship bound for Libya, where transportation of weapons was prohibited at the time. They are now used for border patrols. 2 were given to the Special Suppressive Antiterrorist Unit (ΕΚΑΜ).Fast attack vehicles (FAVs)4Polaris MRZRUsed by Special Forces.3R-12D Flyer 1 Used by Special Forces. Equipped with one FN MAG 7.62mm machine gun and a GMG 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
Engineering vehicles