Filenews 26 March 2024 - by Fanis Makrides
The effort to cover the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Cyprus from all kinds of offensive operations with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) seems to be evolving on a major issue.
This is because, now, both tenders to install an anti-drone shield in important facilities of the state, have not been accompanied by success. It is indicative that the latest attempt to acquire mobile units for protection from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles has been nipped in the bud.
Specifically, the tender for the acquisition of two mobile units had been announced since the end of February, however, for reasons that were not explained, it was cancelled last Wednesday by the contracting authority, which is the Cyprus Police.
The message, signed by the Head of the Finance Directorate of the Police Headquarters and sent to all interested parties, states: "The tender entitled D.O. 28/2024 for the Procurement and Installation of Portable Systems for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures from Unmanned Aircraft Threats has been cancelled by the tender manager."
This development is at least troubling, as the other attempt to close the issue positively has not been successful either. The reason for the contract concluded with a company since 2021 that provides for the installation of an anti-shield drone at five major facilities, but is off schedule.
As reported to us by the Cyprus Police, the contractor requested an extension for the implementation of the 1st and 2nd phase of the implementation of the contract, due to factors related to military operations in the Middle East. We were told that the project would be delivered at the end of 2024, however, with the new data it is postponed to 2025. We had not been given any further clarification because of the nature of the whole matter. This contract provides for the installation of units at the Presidential, Police Headquarters, Central Prisons, as well as at Larnaka and Pafos airports. It also provided for the delivery of portable units.
So, since the new tender for portable units was cancelled, not even a month after its announcement, there is concern.
