Cyprus is reshaping the European defence landscape as a local firm takes the lead in the high-stakes drone industry. Swarmly, based in Cyprus, has ascended to become one of the continent’s premier suppliers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), securing significant export deals reaching as far as Indonesia.
The company has already delivered over 200 H-10 Poseidon drones to the Ukrainian military, while simultaneously penetrating markets outside the European Union. CEO Gary Rafalovsky confirms that this rapid expansion has propelled Swarmly to the top of European drone exports to third countries.
Beyond the commercial success, the development carries profound political and strategic weight. Cyprus is demonstrating its capacity to influence the European defence map by providing competitive technical expertise. This shift creates new opportunities for international research programmes, strategic partnerships, and advanced defence development.