Last week, during the Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) offering IAI’s BlueWhale autonomous submarine system to the Hellenic Navy.

Developed by IAI-ELTA, the BlueWhale is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for critical missions such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM), and is highly effective at covert intelligence gathering in both open oceans and complex coastal environments. The autonomous submarine is capable of executing many of the same missions as a crewed vessel for several weeks, all while minimizing costs, maintenance needs, and personnel risk. BlueWhale has been successfully deployed for thousands of diving hours and has proven its versatility across intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare/electronic support measures (EW/ESM), and MCM operations.

IAI’s EVP and ELTA’s CEO, Dror Bar, highlighted the significance of this technology and collaboration. “BlueWhale represents a transformational leap in maritime defense. It delivers the advanced capabilities of a crewed submarine. Today’s MoU marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to advancing Greece’s maritime security and operational readiness with cutting-edge, autonomous technology.”

Through this partnership, the HAI’s expertise in designing, developing, and producing complex technological systems will play a pivotal role in the production and advancement of the autonomous submarine’s system. At the same time, the HAI will gain access to the IAI’s cutting-edge technology, with active involvement in operationally significant projects and opportunities for technology transfer. 

HAI is Greece’s leading aerospace and defense contractor, while IAI serves as Israel’s premier manufacturer of advanced technologies across air, sea, land, and cyber domains.

In their press release, IAI refers to this collaboration as a “significant milestone in the mutual defense and business cooperation between the two nations.” IAI’s President and CEO, Boaz Levy, expressed pride in this partnership and added, “This collaboration reflects our deep commitment to supporting Greece’s defense priorities by offering cutting-edge, operationally proven solutions while fostering local industry, technological independence, and long-term regional resilience. Together, both nations’ aerospace industries are expanding the boundaries of maritime intelligence and surveillance to better protect national interests and stability.”

HAI’s CEO, Rear Admiral (ret.) Alexandros Diakopoulos, underscored the significance of this partnership, noting the strategic importance for the Aegean Sea’s complex geography. “This strategic collaboration marks a step forward in strengthening Greece’s undersea defense capabilities. The potential integration and co-production of BlueWhale deepens the bilateral ties and represents a leap toward technological autonomy for our country. The Aegean Sea is characterized by complex geography, and the ability to conduct persistent surveillance can ensure rapid response and operational advantage. The deployment of the BlueWhale will offer Hellenic Armed Forces with the advantages of a robust solution that combines anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.”