Cyprus orders new Israeli patrol boat with radar upgrades
The defense pact includes a new ship and system updates for the vessel Cyprus acquired in 2018, with a reported value near $100 million.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Cyprus signed a contract on Monday to acquire a new offshore patrol vessel from Israel.
The agreement, finalized at a ceremony in Cyprus, was signed by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, director general of the Israeli Defense Ministry, and Stelios Kountouris, acting permanent secretary of the Cyprus Defense Ministry. The deal was driven by the Israeli International Defense Cooperation Directorate and the Cypriot Armaments & Defense Capabilities Development Directorate.
Israel Shipyards will build the new vessel. The ship will be fitted with a suite of naval systems manufactured by Rafael. In addition to the new build, the agreement covers upgrades to the systems on Cyprus’s existing offshore patrol vessel, the Commodore Andreas Ioannides.
The Israeli Defense Ministry stated that the new ship, alongside the upgraded Ioannides, will support expanded patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions. The ministry described the pact as a step to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Cyprus Naval Command and its ability to address maritime security challenges.
This purchase follows a pattern of increasing defense ties between the two nations. Cyprus received the Ioannides in 2018, which was equipped with Rafael Typhoon naval weapon stations. The country has also previously acquired Israeli defense hardware, including the Barak MX air-defense system and Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles, according to a report by Cyprus Mail.
The financial details of the new contract were not included in the official ministry statement. However, the Israeli business outlet Calcalist previously reported that the proposed package was worth approximately $100 million.
The signing ceremony included Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate; Ambassador Shuli Davidovich; Eitan Zucker, CEO of Israel Shipyards; and Ran Tavor, head of the Naval Warfare Systems Directorate at Rafael. The two nations also maintain security coordination with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean.
