Greece possibly buying BMP-3Ms and BMP-3Fs

[MarkSheppard]

Link

ATHENS, December 5 (RIA Novosti) - Greece plans to buy Russian BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, a source close to the negotiations told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

Greek media estimate the deal at over 1.2 billion euros ($1.76 billion). However, the Greek General Staff has refused to confirm the report.

The purchase would be one of the largest arms deals between Russia and a NATO member state. In the 1990s, Greece acquired over $1 billion worth of Russian weapons. Russian Air Defense system TOR-M1, Kornet and Fagot antitank weapons are in service with the Greek Armed Forces.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to visit Russia on December 17-19.

Link

Russia-Greece arms contract could be ready by year end
15:32 | 06/ 12/ 2007

MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) - A contract to sell around 415 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to Greece could be ready by the end of this year, a high-ranking Russian military source said on Thursday.

Greek media estimate the deal at over 1.2 billion euros ($1.76 billion). However, neither Greek nor Russian defense ministries have officially confirmed the agreement, first reported by Greek media on Wednesday.

"Talks on details of the contract for the delivery of Russian BMP-3s to Greece are underway. In view of the total number of fighting vehicles to be shipped to the country, the contract will be implemented within a few years," the military source told RIA Novosti.

"The principal contact details can be coordinated as soon as this year."

The purchase would be one of the largest arms deals between Russia and a NATO member state. In the 1990s, Greece acquired over $1 billion worth of Russian weapons. Russian Air Defense system TOR-M1, Kornet and Fagot antitank weapons, as well as air cushion landing craft Zubr are in service with the Greek Armed Forces.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to visit Russia on December 17-19.

Link

Greece to Buy 415 Russian Infantry Combat Vehicles
REUTERS, ATHENS

Greece agreed Dec. 5 to buy 415 BMP-3 fighting vehicles from Russia worth up to 1.7 billion euros ($2.5 billion), a defense source said, in a move expected to further enhance ties between the two countries.

Greece’s State Defense Procurements Council (KYSEA) was due to announce the deal which will be delivered over several years.

"The deal is for 415 BMP-3 vehicles worth up to 1.7 billion euros from Russia," a defense ministry source told Reuters.

Greece is spending about 3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense each year — among the highest in NATO — to reach an arms balance with archrival Turkey, another big defense spender.

It has drawn up a 10-year defense procurement plan worth a total of about 27 billion euros between 2006 and 2015 that includes the purchase of fighter planes and other hardware.

Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 are among military aircraft being considered by Greece, which is seeking to buy 30 fourth-generation fighter jets in a contract worth about 4 billion euros to be announced in the coming year.

Athens has enjoyed improved ties with Moscow, launching a joint oil pipeline project this year.

-------------

A greek friend of mine says the deal is semi close official, and that they'll get without cost 35 to 55 BMP-3Fs for the Greek Marines.