$100 Million Naval Contract Signed Between Israel and Cyprus

Cypriot sailors will soon have a new ship on the water. On Monday, Israel and Cyprus signed an agreement for the acquisition of a new offshore patrol vessel. The contract also includes upgrades to the systems on Cyprus's current patrol boat.

The signing took place in Cyprus. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, the Defense Ministry Director General, signed for Israel. Stelios Kountouris, the acting permanent secretary of the Cyprus Defense Ministry, signed for Cyprus. The deal was led by Israel's International Defense Cooperation Directorate and the Cypriot Armaments & Defense Capabilities Development Directorate.

Israel Shipyards will build the new vessel. Rafael will fit the ship with a range of naval systems. The ministry stated that the systems aboard the existing Israel Shipyards-built patrol vessel will also be upgraded. This ship is the Commodore Andreas Ioannides, which Cyprus received in 2018.

Calcalist previously reported that the proposed package was worth approximately $100 million. The official ministry statement did not disclose the value of the agreement.

The ministry said the new vessel and the upgraded Ioannides will support expanded patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions. The agreement aims to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Cyprus Naval Command.

Several officials attended the ceremony. These included Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, Head of SIBAT; Ambassador Shuli Davidovich; Eitan Zucker, CEO of Israel Shipyards; and Ran Tavor, Head of Rafael's Naval Warfare Systems Directorate.

Israel and Cyprus have expanded their defense cooperation in recent years. This includes naval security, military exercises, and defense procurement. Cyprus has previously acquired the Barak MX air-defense system and Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles. The two countries also cooperate with Greece on regional security matters in the eastern Mediterranean.