Some of the most advanced battle tanks and armored vehicles of the European and US defence industries will be in Athens next week at the international defence exhibition DEFEA 2023.

Battle tanks and armored vehicles are once again under scrutiny due to their role in the battlefields of Ukraine, but also after the announcement of Greece’s interest in upgrading part of the armored fleet of the Hellenic Army. A few months ago, in fact, the modernization of the powerful Leopard 2A4 was discussed at the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) following the relevant proposals of the Supreme Military Council and the Chiefs of Staff Council.

The program is expected to preoccupy the next government, however, visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to learn about developments and see up close Krauss Maffei Wegmann’s formidable Leopard 2A4 main battle tank.

The experts will even be informed of the full scope of the modernization that the manufacturing company has designed. Further, the Leopard will be presented with the additional, external, active, and passive protection system developed by the Greek company EODH.

1/3 #eodh has developed a complete #Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank protection kit based on #ASPIS Heavy Modular Protection System. The protection kit features a new generation multi-layer active & passive ballistic (hybrid) ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CkJeesGlCv

— DEFENCE ReDEFiNED (@Def_Redefined) April 30, 2023

Also read: EODH | Demonstration and trial of “HOPLITE” before Hellenic Army General Staff personnel – Photos

There is strong Greek interest in BAE Systems’ AAV7A1 amphibious armored vehicles, which will also be showcased at DEFEA 2023. Athens is interested in acquiring 76 vehicles to meet the needs of the 32nd Marine Brigade and partially replace the obsolete ABAK platforms. The Greek request has received the green “light” from the State Department and the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) is expected, so that the negotiation process with the US government can begin.

There is also close interest in the CV90 armored combat vehicle from BAE Systems, which will in fact belong to the MkIV version, incorporating all the innovative technologies developed by the company. The 32-ton Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) built for the Swedish Armed Forces is expected to attract evident interest as it is one of the most comprehensive systems of its kind.

Also read: Netherlands | Modernization of MBTs fleet with “Iron Fist” APS and COAPS – VIDEO

The IFV category is noteworthy to say the least and the KF41 Lynx of Rheinmetall Landsysteme could by no means be absent. Athens has expressed evident interest in the said platform as part of an agreement with Germany that will also include the establishment of a production line in Greece.

“Philoctetes” of the French NEXTER will also attend the exhibition in Athens. The VBCI wheeled armored vehicle features a T40 turret with a 40 mm gun, an MBDA Akeron-MP anti-tank missile launcher as well as a remote-controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun.

Also read: “Philoctetes” | Nexter’s solution for the Infantry of the future

VBCI has been presented to the Hellenic Army General Staff, while NEXTER and Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the development of the IFV that will cover the needs of the Hellenic Army.

The Hoplite wheeled armored vehicle will be presented in an anti-tank version armed with a 20 mm cannon and guided missile launchers. “Hoplite”’s manufacturer EODH will also showcase a prototype turret for the “Leonidas” tracked vehicles that the Hellenic Army and the Cypriot National Guard possess.

Also read: ACS Armoured Car Systems | ENOK AB vehicle in SPIKE launcher configuration – The company’s participation in DEFEA 2023

The German ENOK (Light Armored Patrol Vehicle) of ACS Armored Car Systems could not be missing from the wheeled vehicles and neither could the larger ENOK 9.5 version and its airborne version, ENOK AB. The ENOK is a modular tactical vehicle in service with the German Armed Forces and based on the Mercedes G-Class chassis. One of the most interesting vehicle configurations is the ENOK AB Tankhunter equipped with SPIKE guided missiles.

Also read: POLARIS All-Terrain Vehicles | A potential choice for the Cyprus Special Forces

Another interesting participation is the Polaris Special Operations vehicle of North Aegean Slops as well as the proposals for special purpose vehicles of AADS, IVECO as well as EDGE with the upgraded LRSOV (Long Range Special Operations Vehicle).

The 155 mm Zuzana 2-wheeled self-propelled gun of Slovakian Konstrukta Defense, the anti-aircraft OERLIKON Twin Gun GDF009 as well as the ZU-23 of WB Electronics will also attract the interest of the audience.

Also read: ZUZANA-2 | The successor of the self-propelled gun-howitzer acquired by the National Guard