Cyprus signs $100 million contract for new Israeli patrol vessel

Israel and Cyprus finalized an agreement on Monday for the purchase of a new offshore patrol vessel. The contract, valued at approximately $100 million according to reports by Calcalist, includes the construction of a new ship by Israel Shipyards and the installation of Rafael naval systems.

Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, director general of the Israeli Defense Ministry, and Stelios Kountouris, acting permanent secretary of the Cyprus Defense Ministry, signed the document in Cyprus. The deal was negotiated by Israel’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate and the Cypriot Defense Ministry’s Armaments & Defense Capabilities Development Directorate.

The new vessel will be built by Israel Shipyards and equipped with a range of systems from Rafael. In a parallel measure, the agreement covers upgrades to the systems on the Cyprus Navy’s existing offshore patrol vessel. That ship, the IOANNIDES, was also built by Israel Shipyards.

The two nations have deepened their military ties in recent years. Cooperation has included naval security measures, joint military exercises, and defense procurement. Cyprus received its first Israeli-built offshore patrol vessel, the Commodore Andreas Ioannides, in 2018. That ship was fitted with Rafael Typhoon naval weapon stations. According to the Cyprus Mail, Cyprus has also acquired the Barak MX air-defense system and Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles from Israel.

The Israeli Defense Ministry stated that the new vessel and the upgraded IOANNIDES will support expanded patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions. The ministry described the agreement as a step to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Cyprus Naval Command and its capacity to address maritime security challenges. The ministry added that the deal reflects a commitment to regional stability.

The signing ceremony included Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate; Shuli Davidovich, the Israeli ambassador to Cyprus; Eitan Zucker, CEO of Israel Shipyards; and Ran Tavor, head of the Naval Warfare Systems Directorate at Rafael. Israel and Cyprus also coordinate security efforts with Greece, including joint exercises in the eastern Mediterranean.

The new vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the Cyprus Navy following its construction. The upgrade work on the existing ship will proceed alongside the new build. The total cost of the package was not officially disclosed in the ministry’s announcement, but prior reporting placed the value at roughly $100 million.