Nicosia is adding another battery of the Israeli-made Barak MX air defence system to the National Guard, a move expected to complete plans for air defence cover of Cypriot territory. No final decision has been taken on buying further Israeli air defence systems, Phileleftheros understands.
Plans for Barak MX are expected to be completed in line with the original agreement, and the system has already been integrated into the National Guard’s operational planning.
The total number of Barak MX batteries the National Guard has is not being disclosed for reasons of operational security. The system was shown in public for the first time at the military parade on 1 October.
Other Israeli systems
Reports have suggested that Nicosia plans to buy a wide range of Israeli air defence systems. The systems in question are Drone Dome, Lite Beam and Iron Dome, all of which are of interest to Nicosia and the National Guard.
Drone Dome is an integrated system for detecting, identifying and neutralising drones. Lite Beam is a high-energy laser system designed to counter small aerial threats at short range. Iron Dome is an air and missile defence system capable of intercepting rockets, artillery shells, mortars and other aerial threats.
At this stage, however, no steps have been taken and no contact has been made with the Israeli manufacturers about acquiring them.
Russian systems stay
The National Guard’s Russian-made Tor-M1 and Buk systems will stay in its arsenal, since no final decision has been taken on replacing them, according to the same information. Despite the boost to air defence from Barak MX, they remain part of the National Guard’s operational planning, and bringing in new weapons systems does not, at least for now, mean withdrawing them.
