Turkish officials and politicians have called Cyprus’s Israeli-made Barak MX air defence system “more dangerous than the Russian S-300s” because of its capabilities and range, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Tuesday, as Cyprus adds another battery of the system.
Maariv, citing Phileleftheros, said Nicosia was completing its initial procurement plan, with the aim of creating an integrated air defence shield covering the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. The newspaper said the move had drawn strong reactions in Turkey.
The Barak MX, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is already part of the National Guard’s operational planning and was shown in public for the first time at the 1 October military parade in Nicosia. It is a multi-layered air defence system that can counter drones, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles, with interceptors that have a range of up to 150 kilometres.
The report also referred to Nicosia’s interest in further Israeli defence systems, including the Drone Dome anti-drone system, the Lite Beam laser system and the Iron Dome missile defence system. However, no final decisions have been made and there have been no official contacts with the manufacturers about a possible purchase, it said.
According to Maariv, the Russian-made Tor-M1 and Buk systems will remain in the National Guard’s arsenal for now, as bringing in the Barak MX does not mean they will be withdrawn immediately.
