Cyprus and Israel Sign Deal for a New Offshore Patrol Vessel and Upgrade of the Ioannides
Cyprus and Israel signed an agreement on October 26 for a new offshore patrol vessel and the modernisation of the existing Commodore Andreas Ioannides patrol ship. The purchase, previously reported as close to signature, is now formalised.
Who Signed What
The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Cyprus. Israel’s Ministry of Defence Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram and Cyprus’s acting Permanent Secretary of Defence Stelios Kountouris signed. It was led by Israel’s SIBAT directorate and Cyprus’s Armaments and Defence Capabilities Development Directorate.
The Ship and the Upgrade
The new vessel will be built by Israel Shipyards and fitted with Rafael naval systems. According to Cypriot press (Phileleftheros) it will be a second Sa’ar 62-class ship, due by mid-2028 at the latest. The ministry did not say which systems the Ioannides will receive; Cypriot media speculate on a naval version of Rafael’s Spike NLOS, which is unconfirmed. The Ioannides was launched in Haifa Bay in September 2017 and commissioned in January 2018.
The Price
Israeli business daily Globes put the package at €150 million. The figure did not come from either defence ministry and the final contract value was not made public. Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas confirmed the purchase on October 23, saying the navy would get two such ships.
Earlier Report
For the position before signature, see our earlier report.
