List of equipment of the Cypriot National Guard

Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus.

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 (excluding Northern Cyprus). The role of maintaining, upgrading and modifying military equipment is primarily the task of the National Guard Technical Corps, though more complex activities rely upon the availability of civil contracts. As of 2023, the Republic of Cyprus will no longer be under US Defence sanctions opening the National Guard to the sale of US defence products. ^[1]

Infantry Equipment

This list contains equipment which is in use by the Cypriot National Guard.

Camouflages

Model	Origin	Type	Photo	Details
Camoflages
Multicam	United States	Camouflage pattern
Woodland Digital	United States	Camouflage pattern		Used by LOK
UCP	United States	Camouflage pattern
Cypriot Sandstone	Cyprus	Camouflage pattern
Greek Lizard	Greece	Camouflage pattern		Used by ELDYK

Infantry weapons

Model	Origin	Cartridge		Photo	Notes
Handguns
HK USP	Germany	9x19mm Parabellum			[2]
FN Five-Seven	Belgium	FN 5.7×28mm			250 used by Special Forces. [2]
Submachine guns
FN P90	Belgium	FN 5.7×28mm			350 used by the Special Forces. [2]
Assault rifles
HK G3	West Germany   Greece	7.62×51mm NATO			Standard Issue Rifle. The versions operated by the National Guard are mainly the G3A3 and G3A4 (shown in the picture, the upper one is the G3A4 and the lower one is the G3A3). [3] [4]
AK-74M	Russia	5.45×39mm			AK-74M version in use by the National Guard. [5]
Vz.58	Czechoslovakia	7.62×39mm			Used for a brief period of time by the Special Forces in 2016. [6] [7]
Colt M16A2	United States	5.56×45mm NATO			Used by OYK. [2]
FN SCAR-L	Belgium	5.56×45mm NATO			Used by the Special Forces. [8] [9]
FN SCAR-H (TPR Variant)		7.62×51mm NATO
IWI Tavor X95	Israel	5.56×45mm NATO			Used by the Special Forces. [10]
Sniper rifles
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare	United Kingdom	.338 Lapua Magnum			Used by the Special Forces [11] [12]
Accuracy International AX50	United Kingdom	.50 BMG			Used by the Special Forces [11] [12]
Machine guns
MG 3	West Germany   Greece	7.62×51mm NATO			[2] [4]
HK21	Germany	7.62×51mm NATO			A variation of the HK G3 with a heavier barrel. [2] [4]
FN MAG	Belgium	7.62×51mm NATO			[2]
IWI Negev	Israel	5.56×45mm NATO			Used by mechanised infantry, paratroopers and the Special Forces. [13] [9]
		7.62×51mm NATO
M2 Browning	United States	.50 BMG			[14]
Grenade launchers
STK 40 AGL	Singapore	40 mm grenade			[2] [15] [16]
Anti-tank weapons
M72 LAW	United States	Rocket-propelled grenade	66mm		[17]
RPG-7V	Russia	Rocket-propelled grenade	85mm		1,000+ launchers. [18]
M40A1	United States	Recoilless rifle	105mm		144 M40A1s as of 2016. [19] [17]
RAC 112 APILAS	France	Recoilless anti-tank weapon	112mm		1,000+ launchers. [17]
9M117 Bastion	Russia	Anti-tank guided missile	100mm		Line-of-sight, beam-riding missile (LOSBR) fired from the BMP-3 IFV, 700 missiles delivered in 1996. [20]
9M117 Refleks	Russia	Anti-tank guided missile	120mm		Fired from the 125mm main gun of the T80U and T80UK main battle tanks of the National Guard. [21]
MILAN III	France	Anti-tank guided missile	115mm		45 launchers, 1,000+ missiles. [22] [23]
SPIKE LR2	Israel   Germany	Anti-tank guided missile	130mm		Agreement reportedly signed in 2023, arrival dates are unknown. No official statement regarding the purchase. [24]

Land Forces

Armored vehicles

Model	Origin	Photo	Variant	Quantity	Notes
Main battle tanks (MBTs)
T-80	Russia	Cypriot T80U	T-80U	54	A total of 82 MBTs acquired between 1996 and 2011. [25]
			T-80UK	28
AMX-30	France		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. May be replaced by Israeli Merkava. [17] [26] [27] [28]
Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)
BMP-3	Russia		BMP-3 (Basic Version)	43	Deal worth $68 million, and delivered in 1995–1996. [23]
Armored reconnaissance vehicles
EE-9 Cascavel	Brazil		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. [23]
EE-3 Jararaca	Brazil		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. [23]
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs)
ELVO Leonidas	Greece	Greek Leonidas-2 APC	Leonidas-2	197	Based on the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA. [23]
VAB	France		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.) [23] [29]
			VAB-VTT	98
			VAB VCI	17
			VAB VCAC	18
EE-11 Urutu	Brazil		Unknown	10	Status uncertain. [23]
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs)
BOV M16 Miloš	Serbia		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. [30] [31]
Armored recovery vehicles (ARVs)
BREM-80	Russia		BREM-80U	8	Based on the T-80 chassis. [32]
AMX-30	France		AMX-30D	2	[23]
Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle
Euromissile Mephisto	France			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. [17] [23]
Land Rover Wolf W/ MILAN	France /   United Kingdom				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.

Artillery

Model	Origin	Type	Photo	Number	Notes
Rocket artillery
M-63 Plamen	Yugoslavia	128mm towed multiple rocket launcher		24	[23] [17]
M-77 Oganj	Yugoslavia	128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher		8	Status uncertain. [23]
BM-21 Grad	Russia	122mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher		4	Probably second hand. [23]
Self-propelled artillery
Nora B-52	Serbia	155mm self-propelled howitzer		24	First batch received in 2019. [33]
Zuzana	Slovakia	155mm self-propelled howitzer		12	Ordered in 2001 and delivered in 2007 via Greece. [23]
Mk F3 155mm	France	155mm self-propelled howitzer		12	Delivered in 1991. [23]
M107	United States	175mm self-propelled howitzer		12	[34] [17]
M110A2	United States	203mm self-propelled howitzer		8	[34] [17]
Tatrapan	Slovakia	Artillery command vehicle		3	[34] [17]
AMX-VCI	France	Artillery command vehicle		Unknown
Towed artillery
M-56	Yugoslavia	105mm towed howitzer		72	Delivered in 1986. [34] [23]
M1944 BS-3	Soviet Union	100mm towed gun		20	Most if not all have been transferred to Ukraine.
M-114	United States	155mm towed howitzer		12	[34] [17]
TRF1	France	155mm towed howitzer	French 155mm TRF1 Towed Artillery	12	Delivered in 1991. [34] [23]
Mortars
E44-E Mortar	Greece	81mm mortar		180	[17]
M29 Mortar	United States	81mm mortar		Unknown	In use as of 2000. [35]
M30 Mortar	United States	106.7mm mortar		26	To be fully retired. [36]
MO-120-RT	France	120mm mortar	120mm Mortar	116	Delivered in 1990-1991. 12 equipped on mortar carriers. [23] [17]

Airforce

Air defense

Name	Origin	Type	Photo	In service	Notes
Surface-to-air missiles
TOR M-1	Russia	Surface to air missile system		6	Delivered by Greece in replacement for the S-300. [23] [37]
Buk M1-2	Russia	Surface to air missile system		8	Total number of systems is unknown. Could be 2 batteries with 4 systems each. [37] [38] [39] [40]
Aspide	Italy	Surface to air missile system		24	With 12 Skyguard radars. [23] [17]
Mistral	France	Man-portable air defense system	Cypriot SHORAD	30	18 Mistral MANPADS and 12x2 Mistral Atlas vehicle based systems. More than 300 missiles. More missile on order as of June 2023. [41] [17] [23] [34]
9K32 Strela-2	Russia	Man-portable air defense system		100	Operational Numbers may be less [42]
9S737M Ranzhir-M	Russia	Mobile command center		Unknown	Mobile Command Centre for the coordination of the TOR air defense network system [43]
Anti aircraft artillery
GDF-005	Switzerland	Anti-aircraft gun		24	2x35mm anti-aircraft gun. [17] [23]
Zastava M-55	Yugoslavia	Anti-aircraft gun		50	3x20mm anti-aircraft gun. [17]

Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Photo	Variant	In service	Notes
Fixed wing aircraft
Embraer ERJ-135	Brazil	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 [44]
Helicopters
Airbus H145	France   Germany	Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter		H145M	0	6 on order with an option to buy another 6. Expected to arrive by late 2023. [45] [46]
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France	Utility/Anti-tank		Gazelle SA 342L	4	Armed with 4 HOT Anti-tank Guided Missiles. [37] [47] [48]
AgustaWestland AW139	Italy	SAR/Utility		AW139	5	Used primarily for Search and Rescue (SAR). [17] [37] [47]
Bell 206	United States	Utility/Transport		LongRanger III	2	[17] [37]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Aerostar	Israel	Surveillance/Recon			4	+4 on order. [37] [49]
IAI Searcher	Israel	Surveillance/Recon			2	[50]

Retired aircraft include the Mil Mi-35P. ^[51]

Naval Forces

Surface defense

Name	Origin	Type	Photo	In service	Notes
Surface-to-surface missiles
Exocet	France	Mobile surface-to-surface missile		3 batteries.	Block 3+ modernization part of $250 mil. bought along side Mistral 3

Surface Ships

Class	Origin	Vessel Type	Photo	Name	In Service	Length	Notes
Surface Fleet
Al Mumbrukah	United Kingdom	Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)		"Alasia"	1	62m	Gift from the Sultan of Oman, refitted for military purposes in 2017 [52] [53] [54]
Saar 62	Israel	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 [55] [54]
Rodman 55	Spain	Fast Assault boat		"Agathos" "Panagos"	2	17m	Acquired in 2002, Used by Special Forces. [54]
RIB 42' SF	Italy	Fast Assault boat		"Nireas 1" "Poseidonas 1 "	2	13m	Used by Special Forces actively [54]
FPB C382	Italy	Fast Patrol Boat		"Eleftherios Tsomakis" "Nikolas Georgiou"	2	27m	[54]
Esterel	France	Fast Patrol Boat		"Salamis"	1	32m	Oldest active ship in the National Guard naval forces - Heavily upgraded [54]
FPB	Finland	Multitask Patrol Boat		"Ammochostos"	1	26m	Donated from the ministry of agriculture [54] [56]

Future Procurements

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 80's in 2022 Cyprus has started seek interest in multiple western weapon systems. Cyprus also being a part of the European Union means it is part of defensive programs involving other European Nations. ^[57]

Name	Origin	Type	Photo	Number	Expected Arrival	Notes
Exocet MM40 Block 3	France	Mobile surface-to-surface missile		Upgrade Package	N/A	The Exocet deal of the came along side with the orders of new Mistral III MANPAD systems from France in 2021, the deal cost $260 mil. [58] [59]
Mistral III	France	SHORAD / MANPADs		Unknown	N/A	The Mistral deal of the came along side with the orders of new Exocet block 3 systems from France. [59]
Iron Dome	Israel	Air defense System		Unknown	N/A	Not much is known on the deal, claims on agreement came to light in 2022[ citation needed ]
Saar 62	Israel	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. [60]
Airbus H145	France /   Germany	Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter		6 + 6	First batch 2024 (6)	Ordered in 2021
BLOS	France   Belgium   Sweden   Cyprus	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. The development program includes local Cypriot companies and famous defense companies such as MBDA and THALES. [61]

Gallery

• 
  FN P90 submachine gun in the hands of the National Guard during a parade in Larnaca.
• 
  Soldiers of the Special Forces armed with FN Scar-L assault rifles.
• 
  A National Guard soldier standing still with a G3A3 rifle.
• 
  Cypriot T80 main battle tanks during the October 1st parade in Nicosia.
• 
  Cypriot VAB-VCAC armored personnel carriers.
• 
  A National Guard's Aérospatiale Gazelle anti-tank helicopter flying during a parade.
• 
  Flag Carriers during the October 1st independence day parades
• 
  Special Forces fast roping down a helicopter
• 
  Cypriot Special forces joint training onboard the "Alasia" vessel
• 
  Cypriot Underwater demolition team "OYK" in joint training with Greek counterparts

See also

• Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• Armoured vehicles of the Cypriot National Guard
• Cyprus Navy
• Cyprus Air Forces

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