NATO member Greece will unveil a major modernisation of its armed forces, following the example of several of its European allies.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to present a timetable to parliament, headed by an eye-catching new air defence system dubbed the "Achilles Shield".

The Mediterranean country already spends more than 3% of its GDP on defence due to decades of tensions with neighbouring Turkey, AFP reported.

According to ministry sources, it plans to invest approximately 25 billion euros in new weapons systems by 2036.

The Greek government called it "the most significant reform ever undertaken in the history of the Greek state in terms of national defense."

"Our country is being defended, armed and strengthened," government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated last week.

Along with Poland, Estonia and Latvia, Greece is one of the few NATO member states to devote more than 3 percent of its output to defense.

And this year the country of 10.5 million doubled its military budget to 6.13 billion euros.

"Historically, Greece has served and will continue to serve as an outpost for Europe, which is now seeking to reorganize its defense in a difficult international environment," said Maria Gavunelli, a professor of international law at the University of Athens. | BGNES