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The in-depth examination of the proposals submitted by various countries to supply the National Guard (GNF) with a system that will strengthen Cyprus' anti-aircraft umbrella, has been completed by the Ministry of Defence, according to reliable information from the Cyprus News Agency.
The issue of strengthening Cyprus' anti-aircraft umbrella, according to the same information, is high on the Ministry's agenda and is among its top priorities in order to close it as soon as possible.
Specifically, the Cyprus News Agency has been informed that the evaluation of the candidate systems has progressed and currently the Ministry of Defence is in the final stage of making a final decision on the purchase of the specific system, which with its range and in combination with the existing weapon systems of the AF will cover the entire island.
In particular, the strengthening of the anti-aircraft umbrella of Cyprus will be done through the acquisition for the needs of the National Guard of a defensive anti-missile system, capable of countering any threat to the national airspace of Cyprus.
At the same time, according to the same information, it is in the process of evaluating bids submitted for the purchase of multirole military helicopters from European countries to replace the existing Russian Mi-35s available to the National Guard. The particular type of helicopter sought by the NF is capable of conducting day and night flights, carrying a number of fighters, conducting search and rescue and launching missiles.
At the same time, according to the same information, the procedures for the arrival of the new generation of French Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles in Cyprus as soon as possible are progressing, following the signing in France, between Nicosia and Paris, of the relevant purchase contracts. The new generation Exocet has twice the range of the existing Exocet Block 2 missiles available to the National Guard, amounting to around 180 kilometres.
Port upgrades
In addition, according to the same information, the procedures for upgrading for military purposes the ports of Limassol and Larnaca are progressing, while the study for upgrading the naval base in Mari is almost completed and will be submitted to the President of the Republic.
Specifically, as regards the ports of Limassol and Larnaca, the aim of the Ministry of National Defence is the concession to the National Guard by private investors of part of the ports for the docking of warships only. In the first phase, the port of Limassol will be upgraded for military purposes, followed by the port of Larnaca.
The aim of the upgrade is to enable the Republic of Cyprus to offer friendly countries the possibility to dock their warships when they visit the island and to provide on-site services to the ships' crews.
At the same time, the upgrading of the naval base in Mari, for which a study is being carried out, aims, as a competent source told the Cyprus News Agency, to offer the possibility of docking larger warships, which will serve the geostrategic role and the energy programme of the Republic of Cyprus, while strengthening defence diplomacy and attracting more warships from friendly countries to the area for maintenance, refuelling and crew rest.
Finally, the Minister of Defence has submitted a proposal to the Council of Ministers to send more students (in addition to the 9 already sent annually) to the Icons School in Greece in the next three years 2022-203-2024.
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