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List of equipment of the Cypriot National Guard

(Redirected from List of military equipment 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).

Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus.

Infantry Equipment

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

Camouflages

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Model Origin Type Photo Details
Camoflages
Multicam   United States Camouflage pattern
 
 Service-wide camouflaged as of 2019
Woodland Digital   United States Camouflage pattern
 
 in limited use by Cypriot Special Forces LOK. Phased out in 2022
UCP   United States Camouflage pattern
 
 (Retired at an unknown date)
Cypriot Sandstone   Cyprus Camouflage pattern
 
 Phased out from active service in 2017-19, used by reservist forces.
Greek Lizard   Greece Camouflage pattern
 
 Used only by ELDYK

Individual Equipment

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Name Type Origin Photo Notes
Helmets
FAST Helmet Combat helmet   United States
 
 Mostly used by Cypriot Special Forces Command
PASGT Helmet Combat helmet   United States
 
 Standard issue helmet.
Vests & Plate Carriers
Blackhawk vest Combat Vest   United States Mostly in service with special forces.
Patrol Belt Kit Warrior Assault Chest Rig   United Kingdom
Tactical communications
COMTAC Headset   United States Protective communication headsets.

Arms

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Model Origin Cartridge Photo
Handguns
HK USP   Germany 9x19mm Parabellum
 
FN Five-Seven   Belgium FN 5.7×28mm
Submachine guns
FN P90   Belgium FN 5.7×28mm
 
Assault rifles
HK G3   West Germany
  Greece 		7.62×51mm NATO
 
Colt M5   United States 5.56×45mm NATO
 
FN SCAR-L   Belgium 5.56×45mm NATO
 
FN SCAR-H

(TPR Variant)

  Belgium 7.62×51mm NATO
 
IWI Tavor TAR-21   Israel 5.56×45mm NATO
 
Colt M16A2   United States 5.56×45mm NATO
 
AK-74M   Russia 5.45×39mm
 
Vz.58   Czechoslovakia 7.62×39mm
 
Sniper rifles
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare   United Kingdom .338 Lapua Magnum
 
Accuracy International AX50   United Kingdom .50 BMG
 
Machine guns
MG 3   West Germany
  Greece		 7.62×51mm NATO
 
IWI Negev   Israel 5.56×45mm NATO
 
7.62×51mm NATO
FN MAG   Belgium 7.62×51mm NATO
 
HK21   Germany 7.62×51mm NATO
 
M2 Browning   United States .50 BMG
 
Grenade launchers
STK 40 AGL   Singapore 40 mm grenade
 
M203 grenade launcher   USA 40 mm grenade
 
Anti-tank weapons
RAC 112 APILAS   France Recoilless anti-tank weapon 112mm
 
RPG-7V   Russia Rocket-propelled grenade 85mm
 
SPIKE LR2   Israel
  Germany 		Anti-tank guided missile 130mm
 
MILAN III   France Anti-tank guided missile 115mm
 
M40A1   United States Recoilless rifle 105mm
 
M72 LAW   United States Rocket-propelled grenade 66mm
 
9M117 Bastion   Russia Anti-tank guided missile 100mm
 
9M117 Refleks   Russia Anti-tank guided missile 125mm
 

Land Forces

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Armored vehicles

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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. May be replaced by Leclerc or Leopard 2 according to Army Recognition. 
[1]
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. To be replaced.[2][3]
Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)
BMP-3   Russia
 
 BMP-3 (Basic Version) 43 Deal worth $68 million, and delivered in 1995–1996.[4]
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.[4]
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.[4]
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs)
ELVO Leonidas   Greece
 
Greek Leonidas-2 APC
 Leonidas-2 197 Based on the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA.[4]
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.)[4][5]
VAB-VTT 98
VAB VCI 17
VAB VCAC 18
EE-11 Urutu   Brazil
 
 Unknown 10 Status uncertain.[4]
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.[6][7]
Armored recovery vehicles (ARVs)
BREM-80   Russia
 
 BREM-80U 8 Based on the T-80 chassis.[8]
AMX-30   France
 
 AMX-30D 2 Status uncertain.[4]
Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle
Euromissile Mephisto   France
 
 VAB VCAC 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.[2][4]
LAPV Enok   Germany
 
 ENOK 4.8 AB 60 Ordered in 2023. Armed with Spike LR2 missile.[9][10]
SHERPA   France
 
 Akeron MP 12 Armed with the Akeron MP Missile, In service as of 2024.[11][10]
Land Rover Wolf W/ MILAN   France /   United Kingdom
 
 N/A 50+ 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

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Model Origin Type Photo Number Notes
Rocket artillery
M-63 Plamen   Yugoslavia 128mm towed multiple rocket launcher
 
 24 [4][2]
M-77 Oganj   Yugoslavia 128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
 
 8 Status uncertain.[4]
BM-21 Grad   Russia 122mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
 
 4 In working condition.[4]
Self-propelled artillery
Nora B-52   Serbia 155mm self-propelled howitzer
 
 24 First batch received in 2019 from Serbia.[12]
Zuzana   Slovakia 155mm self-propelled howitzer
 
 12 Ordered in 2001 and delivered in 2007 via Greece.[4]
Mk F3 155mm   France 155mm self-propelled howitzer
 
 12 Delivered in 1991.[4]
M107   United States 175mm self-propelled howitzer
 
 12 Status uncertain.[13][2]
M110A2   United States 203mm self-propelled howitzer
 
 8 Status uncertain.[13][2]
Tatrapan   Slovakia Artillery command vehicle
 
 3 [13][2]
AMX-VCI   France Artillery command vehicle   Unknown Status uncertain.
Towed artillery
M-56   Yugoslavia 105mm towed howitzer
 
 72 Delivered in 1986.[13][4]
TRF1   France 155 mm towed howitzer
 
French 155 mm TRF1 Towed Artillery
 12 Delivered in 1991.[13][4]
M1944 BS-3   Soviet Union 100mm towed gun
 
 20 Most if not all M1944 BS-3 transferred to Ukraine as of 2023
M-114   United States 155mm towed howitzer
 
 12 Status uncertain.[13][2]
Mortars
E44-E Mortar   Greece 81 mm mortar
 
 180 [2]
MO-120-RT   France 120 mm mortar
 
120 mm Mortar
 116 Delivered in 1990-1991.[4][2]
M30 Mortar   United States 106.7 mm mortar
 
 26 To be fully retired.[14]
M29 Mortar   United States 81 mm mortar
 
 Unknown In use as of 2000.[15]

Airforce

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Main article: Cyprus Air Command

Air defense

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Name Origin Type Photo In service Notes
Surface-to-air missiles
Barak-MX   Israel
  India 		Surface to air missile system
 
 2 Batteries Delivered in December 2024 by Israel.[16][17][18]
TOR M-1   Soviet Union
  Russia 		Surface to air missile system
 
 6 Delivered by Greece in replacement for the S-300.[4][16]
Buk M1-2   Soviet Union
  Russia 		Surface to air missile system
 
 8 Total number of systems is unknown. Could be 2 batteries with 4 systems each.[16][19][20][21]
Aspide   United States
  Italy 		Surface to air missile system
 
 24 With 12 Skyguard radars.[4][2]
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.[22][2][4][13]
9K32 Strela-2   Soviet Union
  Russia 		Man-portable air defense system
 
 100 Operational Numbers may be less[23]
9S737M Ranzhir-M   Russia Mobile command center
 
 Unknown Mobile Command Centre for the coordination of the TOR air defense network system [24]
Anti aircraft artillery
GDF-005    Switzerland Anti-aircraft gun
 
 24 Part of the OTHELLOS SHORAD System which uses the GDF-005, the ASPIDE and the Skyguard Radar system. 2x35mm anti-aircraft gun.[2][4]
Zastava M-55   Yugoslavia Anti-aircraft gun
 
 50 3x20mm anti-aircraft gun.[2]

Aircraft

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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.[25]
Helicopters
Airbus H145   France
  Germany 		Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter
 
 H145M 0 6 on order with an option to buy another 6. First to be delivered end of December 2024.[26][27][28]
Aérospatiale Gazelle   France Utility/Anti-tank
 
 Gazelle SA 342L 4 Armed with 4 HOT Anti-tank Guided Missiles.[16][29][30]
AgustaWestland AW139   Italy SAR/Utility
 
 AW139 5 Used primarily for Search and Rescue (SAR).[2][16][29]
Bell 206   United States Utility/Transport
 
 LongRanger III 2 VIP Personnel Transport[2][16]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Aerostar   Israel Surveillance/Recon
 
 4 +4 on order.[16][31]
IAI Searcher   Israel Surveillance/Recon
 
 2 [32]

Retired aircraft include the Mil Mi-35P.[33]

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Main article: Cyprus Navy

Surface defense

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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

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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.[34][35][36]
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.[37][36]
Rodman 55   Spain Fast Assault boat   "Agathos" "Panagos" 2 17m Acquired in 2002, Used by Special Forces.[36]
RIB 42' SF   Italy Fast Assault boat   "Nireas 1" "Poseidonas 1 " 2 13m Used by Special Forces actively. [36]
FPB C382   Italy Fast Patrol Boat "Eleftherios Tsomakis" "Nikolas Georgiou" 2 27m [36]
Esterel   France Fast Patrol Boat "Salamis" 1 32m Oldest active ship in the National Guard naval forces - Heavily upgraded.[36]
FPB   Finland Multitask Patrol Boat "Ammochostos" 1 26m Donated from the ministry of agriculture. [36][38]

Future Procurements

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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 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.[39]

Name Origin Type Photo Number Expected Arrival Notes
Mistral III   France SHORAD / MANPADs   Unknown end 2024 The Mistral deal of the came along side with the orders of new Exocet block 3 systems from France.[40]
Saar 62   Israel Offshore Patrol Vessel   2 N/A Original deal underlined that 3 Saar 62s would enter service, only one did until now in 2017, order still hasn't been canceled.[41]
Airbus H145   France /   Germany Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter   6 (+6 option) First batch end of 2024 12 in total. Ordered in 2021
MARSEUS   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 including SignalGeneriX and famous defense companies such as MBDA and THALES.[42][43]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Πόσα εκατομμύρια στοίχισαν τα 82 άρματα Τ80 της Εθνικής Φρουράς". www.offsite.com.cy. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Εξοπλισμός Εθνικής Φρουράς (Κύπρος)". www.ellinikos-stratos.com. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Battle tanks to be scrapped". Cyprus Mail.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Trade Registers".
  5. ^ "Cypriot Armed Forces - Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG) Land Operations Group - Maritime Wing - Air Wing - European Defence Information".
  6. ^ "Σέρβικα αυτοκινούμενα πυροβόλα NORA B-52 παραδίδονται στην Κύπρο" (in Greek). iskra.gr. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Cyprus parades new Serbian-made artillery and armoured vehicles". Janes.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Cyprus receives first of 60 Enok AB anti-tank vehicles armed with Spike LR2 missiles". armyrecognition.com. Army Recognition. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Δημητρίου, Μάριος (18 June 2024). "EKTAKTO: H Κύπρος θα παραγγείλει αντιαρματικούς πυραύλους MBDA Akeron πάνω σε οχήματα Sherpa". Πτήση (in Greek). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Cyprus to buy Sherpa armoured vehicles and Akeron missiles from France". in-cyprus.philenews.com. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  12. ^ https://www.janes.com/defence-equipment-intelligence/cyprus-parades-new-serbian-made-artillery-and-armoured-vehicles/ .
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Polignosi. "Εθνική Φρουρά". www.polignosi.com. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  14. ^ The Military Balance 2016, p. 85.
  15. ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Cyprus". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001–2002. p. 1509.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Εθνική Φρουρά - Αεροπορία". www.army.gov.cy. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Σε υπηρεσία το BARAK MX στην Κύπρο". Δούρειος Ίππος. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  18. ^ "BARAK MX". December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  19. ^ "The Cypriot Missile Crisis". geimint.blogspot.co.uk. May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  20. ^ Νικολοβγένης, Θεόδωρος (5 June 2021). "Συγκριτικό: Εθνική Φρουρά εναντίον Κατοχικού Στρατού (Μέρος Α')". Defence Review (in Greek). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Η Κύπρος παραχωρεί στην Ουκρανία τα ρωσικής κατασκευής οπλικά συστήματα της Εθνοφρουράς! – Δηλώσεις του κυβερνητικού εκπροσώπου". Pronews.gr (in Greek). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  22. ^ Irish, John (20 June 2023). "Five European states sign letter of intent to buy Mistral air defence systems". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Cypriot Armed Forces - Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG) Land Operations Group - Maritime Wing - Air Wing - European Defence Inforamtion". www.armedforces.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  24. ^ Chad (1 October 2011). "Cyprus National Day Military Parade". Military In the Middle East. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  25. ^ HD, NEMESIS (2 September 2022). ""Ένδειξη κύρους της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας" | Έτοιμο το Κυπριακό κυβερνητικό αεροσκάφος" (in Greek). Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Cyprus Air Force H145M rears its head". scramble.nl. Scaramble. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Cyprus signs deal for Airbus attack helicopters". ABC News. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Κύπρος: Αυτά είναι τα νέα ελικόπτερα της Εθνικής Φρουράς που "τρέμουν" οι Τούρκοι [pics]". Γαργαλιάνοι Online - Οι ειδήσεις και τα νέα της Τριφυλιας, της Μεσσηνίας και της Πελοποννήσου στην ώρα τους! (in Greek). 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  29. ^ a b "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  30. ^ Andreou, Evie. "Helicopters to be bought for National Guard". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Εξοπλίζεται με drones τελευταίας τεχνολογίας από το Ισραήλ η Εθνική Φρουρά".
  32. ^ "Current Aircraft Inventory | Cyprus Air Command". March 2017.
  33. ^ Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2024. p. 12.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  34. ^ "ALASIA patrol vessel (1971/2017)". www.navypedia.org. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Alasia (A620) Has Returned to Active Service for Southern Cyprus". DefenceHub | Global Military & Security Forum. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g D-Mitch. "NAVAL FORCES #12 and COAST GUARD VESSELS #5: Cyprus Naval Command & Coast Guard patrol vessels". Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  37. ^ News Desk (3 January 2018). "New OPV Joins the Cypriot Navy - Defense Update:". Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Patrol boats". Työvene. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  39. ^ Saballa, Joe (26 June 2023). "Cyprus to Replace Russian Weapons With Modern, Western Equipment". The Defense Post. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Cyprus to purchase arms worth 240 million euros from France | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Second Sa'ar 62-class OPV ordered for Cypriot Navy". Baird Maritime. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  42. ^ Redefined, Defence (29 September 2022). "LynkEUs | BLOS anti-tank system tested in Cyprus - Strong participation in European programs by Cypriot companies". Defence Redefined. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  43. ^ "Modular ARchitecture Solution for EU States". signalgenerix.com. SignalGeneriX. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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