Israel’s Defense Ministry and Cyprus’s Ministry of Defense signed a defense export deal Monday under which Israel will supply Cyprus with a new maritime patrol vessel equipped with advanced combat systems manufactured by Israel Shipyards and Rafael. The agreement, signed at an official ceremony in Cyprus, also includes upgrading systems on the Cypriot Navy’s existing patrol vessel.
The agreement was signed by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eyal Zamir and his Cypriot counterpart Stelios Kontoris, Acting Permanent Secretary of Cyprus’s Ministry of Defense. The deal was led by the Defense Ministry’s SIBAT defense export agency and the Armament and Defense Capabilities Development Directorate of Cyprus’s Ministry of Defense.
Under the deal, Israel Shipyards will manufacture an OPV-class maritime patrol vessel to be equipped with a range of advanced naval systems from Rafael. In parallel, Israel will upgrade systems on Cyprus’s existing patrol vessel, the IOANNIDES, which was also built by Israel Shipyards.
The new vessel and upgraded ship are expected to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Cypriot Navy and expand its activities in patrol, surveillance, search and rescue operations. The Defense Ministry emphasized that the agreement represents another step in deepening defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthening regional stability.
The signing ceremony was attended by head of the Defense Ministry’s SIBAT agency Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yair Kulas, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Shuli Davidovich, Israel Shipyards CEO Eitan Zucker, head of Rafael’s Naval Combat Systems Division Ran Tavor, and other senior officials from both countries.