The National Guard is launching a push to integrate drone technology across all command levels, from Brigades to Platoons, after the European Commission rejected a request for funding to upgrade two key military bases.
The technological upgrade, which focuses on closer cooperation with the Cypriot defence industry and draws lessons from the war in Ukraine, remains the core of the military’s strategic plan.
The large-scale integration was discussed during a Defence Committee session on Thursday, 11 December, which reviewed an equipment list submitted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for SAFE programme funding. The MoD and the General Staff of the National Guard (GEEF) plan to equip all corps with various types of fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and smaller quadcopter drones for diverse missions. This strategy follows the recent acquisition of Cypriot-made unmanned aircraft from the Limassol-based company Swarmly Aero for the Artillery corps.
Furthermore, the Navy Command plans to acquire Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)—remotely operated vessels used for missions including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and supporting other warships. The main goal of USVs is to execute dangerous or demanding tasks without exposing human personnel to risk.
French vehicles and naval gaps
Because its current Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) are old and difficult to maintain, Cyprus is seeking to acquire French-made wheeled APCs via the SAFE programme. These vehicles will feature heavy armament and are expected to meet IFV specifications. The submitted list includes two options from the French defence industry, reflecting Cyprus’s long tradition of acquiring French armour.
Separately, the GEEF and the MoD are in advanced talks to acquire a second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), based on a plan originally drafted ten years ago to strengthen the naval capacity of the Republic. This acquisition, which will not be funded through the SAFE programme, is expected to multiply the Navy’s ability to conduct extended patrols in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and participate more frequently in multinational exercises. The initial plan called for four ships of the same class (Saar 62); however, the Navy currently operates only one OPV, the Ioannidis, which cost the Republic approximately €44 million.
Base funding rejected
In a setback for the island’s military infrastructure, the European Commission rejected the request to upgrade the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos and the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base at Mari. The Commission ruled that the projects did not meet the criteria of the SAFE programme.
Consequently, the MoD is required to supplement its SAFE list by requesting either new weapon systems or by increasing the number of existing products requested for funding.
In other defence news, the Cyprus-UK Defence Industry Day concluded on 9 December 2025 at the Cyprus High Commission in London. The event focused on future cooperation, investment, and innovation in areas such as cyber defence, unmanned vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, space, and communications.
Read more: