Cyprus is in advanced talks to acquire Sherpa armoured vehicles from French firm Arquus and equip them with anti-tank missiles, according to La Tribune newspaper.
The Sherpas would be modified to function as tank destroyers, armed with MBDA’s Akeron missiles and target acquisition systems allowing them to engage enemies without direct line of sight.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French manufacturers is expected soon, La Tribune reported.
Cyprus’ interest follows a successful September 2022 demonstration as part of the European LynkEUs project, showcasing Akeron’s ability to destroy hidden targets.
The test involved a Sherpa equipped with an Impact turret launching Akeron missiles, guided by a Novadem NX-70 drone that located the target beyond visual range.
The island is a major consumer of French military equipment, acquiring nearly €310 million worth of systems between 2013-2022.
In 2023, Cyprus joined a consortium with Belgium, Estonia, and Hungary to jointly purchase Mistral air defence missiles, potentially exceeding 1,000 missiles.
