Greece Eyes Indian-Made Armored Vehicles: Turkey Reacts with Alarm

Athens/Ankara: Greece is reportedly preparing to acquire Indian-made armored vehicles for its military, a move that has caused concern in neighboring Turkey. Turkish media outlets have sensationalized the development, with some describing it as a declaration of war against Turkey.

According to the Turkish outlet Yeni Akit, Greece has taken a significant step toward procuring the WhAP 8×8 wheeled armored combat vehicle, developed by Tata Advanced Systems of India. The report claims that the acquisition signals Greece’s intent to strengthen its stance against Turkey.

The development comes after a meeting on December 12, 2025, in Athens between senior Greek military officials and representatives from Tata Advanced Systems. The discussions focused on temporarily deploying the armored vehicles in Greece for operational testing. The evaluation of Tata’s WhAP 8×8 forms part of a larger modernization effort aimed at enhancing the mobility and capability of Greek military units.

Turkey-Greece Tensions and Greek Defense Needs

Currently, the majority of Greece’s armored fleet consists of M113A1 and M1113A2 armored personnel carriers. Despite modernization attempts in recent years, many vehicles still fall short of modern standards. The Greek Army also continues to operate several Soviet-era BMP-1 armored personnel carriers. Rising tensions with Turkey have made the limitations of these older platforms more acute, highlighting the need for advanced, versatile armored vehicles.

Tata’s WhAP 8×8: Features and Capabilities

The Tata WhAP 8×8 features Level-4 ballistic protection under SATANAG standards, scalable modular armor, and a remote-controlled weapons system or a 30mm manned turret. It is amphibious, capable of operating on land and water using a water jet system. The vehicle carries a crew of three and up to eight fully equipped soldiers. Its interior layout prioritizes rapid exit and crew protection. Powered by a 600 hp Cummins ISXe engine with automatic transmission, the vehicle can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.

Targeting the European Market

Tata first showcased the WhAP 8×8 prototype at the Defence Expo 2014. Since then, it has undergone multiple testing phases and configuration updates. Seeking to expand its presence in the European defense market, Tata presented the WhAP 8×8 at the DEFEA 2025 International Defence and Security Exhibition held in Athens in May 2025.