The Cypriot National Guard is a combined arms force and represents the organised air, land and sea capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus. Equipment is mostly imported from other countries, since the country has very limited heavy industrial and commercial industrial capacity due to its small population and land mass.
This list contains equipment which is in use by the Cypriot National Guard.
Model | Origin | Type | Photo | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Camouflages | ||||
Multicam | ![]() | Camouflage pattern | ![]() | |
Woodland Digital | ![]() | Camouflage pattern | ![]() | Unused since 2017 |
UCP | ![]() | Camouflage pattern | ![]() | (Retired at an unknown date) |
Cypriot Sandstone | ![]() | Camouflage pattern | ![]() | |
Greek Lizard | ![]() | Camouflage pattern | ![]() | Used by ELDYK |
Model | Origin | Photo | Quantity | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Utility/Cargo vehicles | |||||
MAN FX (Steyr) | ![]() | ![]() | [30] | ||
Steyr 1491 | ![]() | ![]() | [30] | ||
MAN RMMV TG MIL | ![]() | ![]() | Several Variants. Commonly used to transport the TRF1 towed howitzers and personel. [30] [31] | ||
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer | ![]() | Some carrying Mistral Manpads. [30] | |||
Renault TRM 10000 | ![]() | Used to transport and support the MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles of the Navy Command. [32] [30] | |||
Mercedes-Benz G-Class | ![]() | ![]() | [30] | ||
ACMAT VLRA | ![]() | ![]() | [30] | ||
Mitsubishi L200 | ![]() | ![]() | 125 | [33] | |
Ford Ranger Double Cab XL | ![]() | ![]() | 60 | [33] | |
Isuzu D-Max Double | ![]() | ![]() | 60 | [33] | |
Mitsubishi Pajero | ![]() | ![]() | Transferred from Cyprus Police. [34] |
Model | Origin | Photo | Variant | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main battle tanks | |||||
T-80 | ![]() | ![]() | T-80U | 54 | A total of 82 main battle tanks acquired between 1996 and 2011. [35] May be replaced by Leclerc or Leopard 2. [36] |
T-80UK | 28 | ||||
AMX-30 | ![]() | AMX-30B2 | 52 | Another 61 AMX-30s have been withdrawn from active service and are waiting to be scrapped; some will be kept for museums. To be replaced. [19] [37] | |
Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) | |||||
BMP-3 | ![]() | ![]() | BMP-3 (Basic Version) | 43 | Deal worth $68 million, and delivered in 1995–1996. [25] |
Armored reconnaissance vehicles | |||||
EE-9 Cascavel | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Cascavel Mk IV/V | 126 | Entered service from 1984 to 1988. It has a top speed of 80 km/h off-road and 110 km/h on-road. It is armed with a 90 mm Belgian Cockerill Mk 3 gun, improved day and night optics with laser rangefinder, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft MG. [25] |
EE-3 Jararaca | ![]() | ![]() | EE-3 Tank destroyer | 36 | Entered service from 1984 to 1985, 24 are armed with a MILAN ATGM system. The vehicle has a 3-man crew with a top speed of 100 km/h and is armed with 1 x 20-mm Rh202 autocannon, and 1 x 12.7mm machine gun. [25] |
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) | |||||
ELVO Leonidas | ![]() | ![]() | Leonidas-2 | 197 | Based on the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA. [25] |
VAB | ![]() | ![]() | VAB-PC | 4 | A total of 147 vehicles are operated by the National Guard. The VAB VCAC variant is equipped with the Euromissile Mephisto anti-tank missile system. (See infantry weapons above.) [25] [38] |
VAB-VTT | 98 | ||||
VAB VCI | 27 | ||||
VAB VCAC | 18 | ||||
EE-11 Urutu | ![]() | ![]() | Unknown | 10 | Received in 1984. Status uncertain. [25] |
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) | |||||
BOV M16 Miloš | ![]() | ![]() | Artillery reconnaissance – command vehicle | 8 | Part of a $50 mil. deal that included Nora B-52. Delivered in 2019. The 8 BOV M16 are used as artillery reconnaissance and battery command vehicles for the 24 Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzers of the National Guard. [39] [40] |
Armored recovery vehicles (ARVs) | |||||
BREM-80 | ![]() | ![]() | BREM-80U | 8 | Based on the T-80 chassis. [41] |
AMX-30 | ![]() | ![]() | AMX-30D | 2 | [25] |
Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle | |||||
Euromissile Mephisto | ![]() | 18 | 18 systems. Mounted on the 18 VAB VCAC APCs of the National Guard with four ready-to-fire HOT-2 anti-tank missiles and eight more in reserve, 500 missiles. [19] [25] | ||
LAPV Enok | ![]() | ![]() | ENOK 4.8 AB | 1 + 59 on order | Armed with Spike LR2 missiles. [42] |
Sherpa Light | ![]() | ![]() | 12 on order | Ordered in May 2025. Will be armed with the new Akeron MP missile. Possible additional armament consists of 12,7mm machine gun and 40mm grenade launcher. [29] [27] [43] | |
Land Rover Wolf W/ MILAN | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ? | Multiple systems of MILAN mounted on Land Rover Defender Wolfs. Significant Numbers, exact numbers unknown. 115 mm, Tandem shaped charge with 2 km max range. |
Model | Origin | Type | Photo | Number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket artillery | |||||
M-63 Plamen | ![]() | 128mm towed multiple rocket launcher | ![]() | 24 | Reportedly acquired 24 towed pieces in the early 1980s from former Yugoslavia. [25] [19] |
M-77 Oganj | ![]() | 128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | ![]() | 8 | Status uncertain. [25] |
BM-21 Grad | ![]() | 122mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | ![]() | 4 | Probably second hand. [25] |
Self-propelled artillery | |||||
Nora B-52 | ![]() | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | ![]() | 24 | First batch received in 2019. [28] |
Zuzana | ![]() | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | ![]() | 12 | Ordered in 2001 and delivered in 2007 via Greece. [25] |
Mk F3 155mm | ![]() | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | ![]() | 12 | Delivered in 1991. [25] |
M107 | ![]() | 175mm self-propelled howitzer | ![]() | 12 | [44] [19] |
M110A2 | ![]() | 203mm self-propelled howitzer | ![]() | 8 | [44] [19] |
Tatrapan | ![]() | Artillery command vehicle | ![]() | 3 | [44] [19] |
AMX-VCI | ![]() | Artillery command vehicle | ![]() | Unknown | |
Towed artillery | |||||
M-56 | ![]() | 105mm towed howitzer | ![]() | 72 | Delivered in 1986. [44] [25] |
M1944 BS-3 | ![]() | 100mm towed gun | 20 | ||
M-114 | ![]() | 155mm towed howitzer | ![]() | 12 | [44] [19] |
TRF1 | ![]() | 155mm towed howitzer | ![]() | 12 | Delivered in 1991. [44] [25] |
Mortars | |||||
E44-E Mortar | ![]() | 81mm mortar | ![]() | 180 | [19] |
M29 Mortar | ![]() | 81mm mortar | ![]() | Unknown | In use as of 2000. [45] |
M30 Mortar | ![]() | 106,7mm mortar | ![]() | 26 | To be fully retired. [46] |
MO-120-RT | ![]() | 120mm mortar | ![]() | 116 | Delivered in 1990-1991. 12 equipped on mortar carriers. [25] [19] |
Name | Origin | Type | Photo | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface-to-air missiles | |||||
Barak MX | ![]() | Surface-to-air missile system | ![]() | Possibly 2 batteries. [47] | In operation as of December 2024. [48] [49] [50] [51] Most likely: 2 batteries consisting of 4 launchers each, 150 km version. |
Aspide | ![]() | Surface to air missile system | ![]() | 24 | 6 batteries/130 missiles. Utilized with the Skyguard system using Oerlikon GDF 35mm. 12 Skyguard radars. [25] [19] |
Mistral | ![]() | Man-portable air defense system | ![]() | 30 (300 missiles) | 18 Mistral MANPADS and 12 x2 Mistral ATLAS system mounted on Pinzgauer utility vehicles. More than 300 missiles. More missile on order as of June 2023. [52] [19] [25] [44] |
TOR M-1 | ![]() ![]() | Surface to air missile system | ![]() | 6 | Delivered by Greece in replacement for the S-300. [25] [53] ~150 missiles. |
Buk M1-2 | ![]() ![]() | Surface to air missile system | ![]() | 8 | Total number of systems is unknown. Possibly 2 batteries with 4 systems each. [53] [54] [55] |
9K32 Strela-2 | ![]() ![]() | Man-portable air defense system | ![]() | 100 | Operational numbers may be less. [56] |
9S737M Ranzhir-M | ![]() | Mobile command center | ![]() | Unknown | Mobile Command Centre for the coordination of the TOR air defense network system [57] |
Anti aircraft artillery | |||||
GDF-005 | ![]() | Anti-aircraft gun | ![]() | 24 | 2x35mm anti-aircraft gun. [19] [25] |
Zastava M-55 | ![]() | Anti-aircraft gun | ![]() | 50 | 3x20mm anti-aircraft gun. [19] |
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Photo | Variant | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fixed wing aircraft | ||||||
Embraer ERJ-135 | ![]() | VIP Transport | ![]() | EMB-135BJ | 1 | Donated by Greece to Cyprus in September 2022. The aircraft is used to transport the President of the Republic and other government officials. [58] |
AIr Tractor AT-802 | ![]() | Fire-fighting | ![]() | 2 | Transferred in February 2025 from the Department of Forests to the newly created fire-fighting unit of the National Guard. [59] [60] | |
Helicopters | ||||||
Airbus H145 | ![]() ![]() | Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter | ![]() | H145M | 4 | Another 2 on order with an option to buy an additional 6. First 4 delivered in 2025. Equipped with the HForce weapons system. [61] [62] [63] [64] |
Aérospatiale Gazelle | ![]() | Utility/Anti-tank | ![]() | Gazelle SA 342L | 4 | Armed with 4 HOT Anti-tank Guided Missiles. [53] [65] [66] |
AgustaWestland AW139 | ![]() | SAR/Utility | ![]() | AW139 | 5 | Used primarily for Search and Rescue (SAR) in coordination with JRCC Larnaca. [19] [53] [65] |
Bell 206 | ![]() | Utility/Transport | ![]() | LongRanger III | 2 | Three acquired from Belgian source in the 1980s. One lost in crash in 2003. [19] [53] |
Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||||
Aerostar | ![]() | Surveillance/Recon | ![]() | 4 | +4 on order. [53] [67] | |
IAI Searcher | ![]() | Surveillance/Recon | ![]() | 2 | [68] |
Retired aircraft include the Mil Mi-35P. [69]
Name | Origin | Type | Photo | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface-to-surface missiles | |||||
MM40 Exocet | ![]() | Mobile surface-to-surface missile | ![]() | 3 batteries. | Block 3+ modernization, part of $250 million order , bought alongside Mistral 3 |
Class | Origin | Vessel Type | Photo | Name | In Service | Length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface Fleet | |||||||
Al Mumbrukah | ![]() | Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) | ![]() | "Alasia" | 1 | 62m | Gift from the Sultan of Oman, refitted for military purposes in 2017. [70] [71] [72] |
Saar 62 | ![]() | Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) | ![]() | "Andreas Ioannides" | 1 | 62m | Part of deal for 2 ships of same class from 2017, one of the newest ships of the NG. [73] [72] |
Rodman 55 | ![]() | Fast Assault boat | | "Agathos" "Panagos" | 2 | 17m | Acquired from Spain in 2002. Used by OYK. [72] |
RIB 42' SF | ![]() | Fast Assault boat | ![]() | "Nireas 1" "Poseidonas 1 " | 2 | 13m | Used by OYK. [72] |
FPB C382 | ![]() | Fast Patrol Boat | "Eleftherios Tsomakis" "Nikolas Georgiou" | 2 | 27m | Another 2 in service with the Cyprus Port and Marine Police. [72] | |
Esterel | ![]() | Fast Patrol Boat | "Salamis" | 1 | 32m | Oldest active ship in the National Guard naval forces. Heavily upgraded. [72] | |
FPB 26M | ![]() | Multitask Patrol Boat | "Ammochostos" | 1 | 25m | Donated from the ministry of agriculture. [72] [74] |
In the last decade, the Cypriot National Guard has pushed for a complete modernization of its capabilities and equipment. In light of the recent lifting of the US imposed embargo of the '80s in 2022, Cyprus has started showing interest on multiple Western weapon systems. Cyprus also being a part of the European Union which means it is part of defensive programs involving other European nations. [75]
Name | Origin | Type | Photo | Number | Expected Arrival | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exocet MM40 Block 3 | ![]() | Mobile surface-to-surface missile | ![]() | Upgrade Package | N/A | The Exocet deal came alongside the orders of new Mistral III MANPAD systems from France in 2021, the deal cost $260 mil. [76] [77] |
Mistral III | ![]() | SHORAD / MANPADs | ![]() | Unknown | N/A | The Mistral deal came alongside the orders of new Exocet block 3 systems from France. [77] |
Saar 62 | ![]() | Offshore Patrol Vessel | ![]() | 1 | N/A | Original deal underlined that 2 Saar 62s would enter service, only one did until now in 2017, order still hasn't been canceled. [78] |
Airbus H145 | ![]() ![]() | Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter | ![]() | 6 (+6 option) | First batch 2024 | Ordered in 2021. 2 delivered as of early 2025. |
Akeron MP | ![]() | Fire-and-forget anti-tank Missile | ![]() | Unknown | Unknown | Deal expected soon along with Sherpa Light. [79] |
MARSEUS | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Beyond Line of sight missile | ![]() | Unknown | Unknown | PESCO project between multiple European nations coordinated by France to develop a new Beyond line of Sight missile system, Testing of the system was conducted in Cyprus in the summer of 2022. [80] [81] |