The Hellenic Navy is preparing a Blue Whale lease, with Greece planning a government-to-government agreement to rent three Israeli autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles, Israel Defense reported on Monday 19 October.
The vehicles are the Blue Whale ELI-3325, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Israel Defense said it based its report on Greek defence media, which first described the framework on Saturday 17 October.
Greek officials have not publicly confirmed the deal. According to the reports, however, Athens chose the Blue Whale lease because its available budget is limited.
Greece used the same leasing model for its first Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle system, Israel Defense reported. Defence officials also considered buying five vehicles instead, the outlet said.
Blue Whale lease versus purchase
Well-informed sources said the five-vehicle option could have created a local production line, according to the report. That line would have involved Salamis Shipyards and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI).
In May 2025, IAI and HAI signed a memorandum of understanding at the DEFEA 2025 exhibition in Athens to offer the system to the navy. At the time, IAI said HAI would take on a role in production, Reuters reported.
Greek City Times reported on the signing of that underwater system deal in May 2025. In February, the paper reported that Greece was considering Israeli unmanned submarines after its frigate deal.
ELTA Systems, the radar and electronics arm of IAI, developed the vehicle, EDR Magazine reported in 2025.
Missions and specifications
The vehicle measures 10.9 metres long and 1.12 metres in diameter, and it weighs 5.5 tonnes. It travels at 2 to 3 knots on the surface and up to 7 knots submerged, Israel Defense reported.
Depending on the mission and battery setup, it can stay at sea for 10 to 30 days. As a result, it can work in shallow waters, narrow straits and open seas, the outlet said.
Its listed missions include anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, seabed warfare and mine countermeasures. In addition, it can gather acoustic and signals intelligence and help detect piracy, terrorism and illegal migration.
The vehicle also sends real-time data to command stations through an encrypted satellite link, according to the report. Unmanned vehicles could also fill gaps while the navy’s Type 214 Papanikolis-class submarines undergo mid-life upgrades, Israel Defense reported.
The reports did not give a cost, a contract length or a signing date for the Blue Whale lease.
Source: Israel Defense
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