Cyprus’s entire offshore patrol fleet consists of a single vessel struggling to monitor the country’s vast exclusive economic zone, a capability gap the Defence Ministry now aims to close by doubling its naval force.
The National Guard’s Naval Command operates just one offshore patrol vessel—the OPV Ioannides—leaving effective surveillance of Cyprus’s maritime zones and EEZ severely limited, according to military sources.
The Defence Ministry and National Guard General Staff are now in advanced talks to acquire a second offshore patrol vessel, which would immediately double the navy’s operational capacity for the first time in a decade.
The move comes as Cyprus pushes to strengthen maritime security through both its defence budget and the EU-backed SAFE programme, which funds military capabilities across member states.
A second patrol vessel would transform the navy’s reach. The Naval Command could conduct more extensive patrols across the Eastern Mediterranean, maintain a permanent EEZ presence, and significantly increase participation in international military exercises, sources told philenews.
Yet even two vessels falls dramatically short of the original plan. A decade ago, Cyprus envisaged acquiring four ships of the Saar 62 class to create a resilient, flexible patrol fleet. That ambition collapsed, leaving the Naval Command with only the Ioannides, which cost close to €44m when acquired, though this doesn’t indicate the likely price for a new vessel.
The lone patrol ship operates continuously, participating in multinational exercises including EUNOMIA, NEMESIS and MEDUSA, as well as escort missions and search and rescue operations. But one vessel cannot provide the persistent coverage Cyprus’s maritime interests demand.
Staffing a second ship poses no immediate obstacle. The Naval Corps maintains satisfactory officer availability, sources indicate, allowing rapid crew deployment once a vessel is secured.
Cyprus is simultaneously pursuing a more radical capability boost through domestically manufactured unmanned surface vessels. Cypriot defence companies are developing remote-controlled craft designed for surveillance, intelligence gathering, strike missions and warship support—all without exposing personnel to danger.
These unmanned vessels, promoted through the SAFE programme, can cooperate with aerial drones and manned ships, multiplying the fleet’s deterrent power whilst providing prolonged maritime presence and rapid threat response. The technology allows Cyprus to project naval power far beyond what traditional crewing would permit.
The domestic defence industry plays a central role in a five-year National Guard modernisation plan submitted to the European Commission, with the maritime sector receiving particular emphasis as Cyprus seeks to address its naval deficit.
Authorities are scheduling developments that could materialise imminently, with both the second patrol vessel and unmanned craft advancing through procurement and development stages. For a country whose maritime zones dwarf its land territory, the naval expansion represents not merely an enhancement but a necessity.
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