in-cyprus 11 October 2025 - by Andreas Bimbishis
The Republic of Cyprus is moving in two parallel directions with the aim of strengthening the island’s defence arsenal and, concurrently, its security sector. Towards the European Union, through the SAFE programme, and towards the United States, through the EDA programme. Cyprus’s shopping list from Europe and America includes everything from electronic warfare systems to C-130 aircraft and helicopters. The systems that Cyprus has in mind and wishes to acquire concern both the defence sector and broader security sectors such as search and rescue and firefighting.
What Cyprus Seeks to Secure via SAFE
Regarding the European Union’s SAFE programme, Nicosia is working, on the one hand, to acquire specific systems and, on the other, to upgrade the two bases, with the air base in Paphos being a priority. The goal is for the studies to be completed within 2026 and for construction work to begin in 2027.
As for the weapons systems via the SAFE programme, Cyprus is targeting the following:
Significant upgrade of the National Guard’s communications systems.
Digitalisation of communications functions, utilising artificial intelligence capabilities, and acquiring electronic warfare capabilities.
Upgrade of the National Guard’s mechanised assets (concerning the Leonidas and VAP vehicles).
Upgrade of the Mistral missiles.
Development of night-time operation capabilities.
Acquisition of anti-artillery and anti-mortar radar systems.
Rapid mine-laying vehicles/systems.
Drone and anti-drone systems.
Helicopters that will also be capable of search and rescue missions.
The five-year plan prepared by the Cypriot Ministry of Defence within the framework of the SAFE programme, in cooperation with other European countries, will be submitted to Brussels by the end of November. All plans falling under the SAFE umbrella foresee synergies with Cypriot industries active in the defence sector.
The Cypriot requests, which will be submitted by the end of November, are expected to be approved in late December or early January.
According to the existing planning, Cyprus estimates it will utilise a sum in the order of €150 million during the first year. This amount will be covered through the SAFE programme.
In light of the above, the head of the European Defence Agency (EDA) is expected to visit Cyprus during the last week of October.
What Will Be Discussed with the Americans
The second pillar of strengthening the defence and security of the Republic of Cyprus is through the American EDA (Excess Defense Articles) programme. Already, within the framework of cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus, the Cypriot side has conveyed its needs for specific systems to the American side. For their part, the Americans sent Nicosia a list of available systems that could be of interest to Cyprus. Based on this list, a specific catalogue was prepared, which includes, among other things:
A number of general-purpose vehicles.
The possibility of acquiring C-130 transport aircraft with aerial firefighting capability is being explored.
Special vehicles for the air base, such as refuelling and aircraft loading vehicles.
As “Fileleftheros” revealed yesterday, a delegation from the National Guard General Staff will travel to the United States between 27 and 31 October for further discussion regarding the weapons systems that interest the Republic of Cyprus. Following that, depending on the agreements reached by the two sides, experts from the Ministry of Defence and the National Guard will travel to the US to inspect and evaluate the systems before the final decision on their acquisition.
The Biggest Effort of the Last Decade
Government circles pointed out to “Fileleftheros” that the effort being made in the defence and security sector of the Republic of Cyprus is the largest in the last decade.
President Christodoulides stated earlier this week that “the continuous upgrade of the National Guard and the strengthening of our homeland’s deterrent power constitutes a supreme priority for our government, through specific actions, such as the utilisation of the EU’s SAFE financing tool, which provides the Republic of Cyprus with an amount of €1.2 billion, the procurement of equipment from the USA through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programmes, the utilisation of the very promising Cypriot defence industry, and the upgrade of critical infrastructure, such as the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base.”
