Israel has signed an agreement to provide Cyprus with a second offshore patrol vessel, modernizing the island nation’s littoral surveillance capabilities.
Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram and Cypriot Defense Ministry Acting Permanent Secretary Stelios Kountouris finalized the deal during a meeting at the EU member country.
‘Another Important Step’
Under the terms, Israel Shipyards will build the new vessel, while Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will integrate it with naval systems.
The 62-meter (203-foot) ship will join the Cypriot fleet to secure exclusive economic zones, monitor critical waterways, and counter security threats in the eastern Mediterranean.
Although officials did not formally release financial figures, local Cypriot media reported that the procurement package is valued at approximately 150 million euros ($166.7 million).
Additional details regarding the platform’s specifications were not disclosed.
At the same time, Tel Aviv will also upgrade the combat systems on the Commodore Andreas Ioannides (P61), an Israeli-built offshore patrol boat delivered to the Cypriot Naval Command in 2018.
That hull is armed with Raphael’s Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations. Depending on its configuration, it fires a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun or a 40mm grenade launcher at a rate exceeding 300 rounds per minute.
“The agreement between the Ministries of Defense of Israel and Cyprus constitutes another important step in strengthening the operational capabilities of the Cypriot Naval Command and increasing its ability to deal with maritime security challenges,” the Israeli Defense Ministry stated.
“The new patrol ship, alongside the upgraded patrol ship IOANNIDES, will support the expansion of patrol, surveillance, search and rescue missions. By strengthening their capabilities and deepening their partnership, the two countries reaffirm their commitment to stability in the region.”
