The Ministry of Defense and the National Guard General Staff want to upgrade the overall fleet of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), "Leonidas", through a modernization program with Greece, which has a large number of vehicles of this type.

According to information from Filenews, Greece and Cyprus are still at the stage of discussions, with the declared desire of the Cypriot side to proceed with the procedures and for the modernization of vehicles to take shape through the SAFE program.

If the discussions finally bear fruit, then it will be a very important development as these armoured vehicles are in the Service and are the main weapon of many motorized units of the National Guard. Cyprus has been equipped by Greece, in the 90s, with 197 "Leonidas", while a significant number of vehicles of this type are also maintained by ELDYK, with the total number estimated at around 300 vehicles.

It is noted that, in order for any process of joining the SAFE program to proceed, it is necessary for Athens to officially express its interest. This is because the programme strictly stipulates that joint procurements can only be implemented when at least two Member States are involved. This requirement is not formal, but substantial, because the EU seeks to strengthen cooperation between countries, reduce costs through larger orders and ensure that the equipment acquired is common and interoperable. Therefore, Greece's participation is a decisive condition for the Republic of Cyprus to be able to secure European funding and implement its plan for the upgrade of the Leonidas APCs.

The upgrade of the Leonidas armoured vehicles, if the procedures go ahead, is expected to give them significant advantages in terms of their armour and firepower. In the past, a proposal from the Greek company EODH was on the table, which provided for a comprehensive intervention in the vehicle that would be significantly modernized. Developments on the matter are expected to emerge within the first quarter of 2026.