Home Europe Cyprus buying Israel’s Iron Dome, report

Cyprus buying Israel’s Iron Dome, report

Iron Dome for Cyprus
Illustration: US Army file photo of the Iron Dome system

The Cypriot defense ministry has approved the purchase of the Israeli-developed and built Iron Dome air defense system for its National Guard, local daily Kathimerini reported on August 19.

Citing sources, the report said an agreement on the sale had already been signed by officials from both sides.

The report did not provide any additional info on the value of the deal or delivery schedules, saying only the system was “considered ideal for both air defense and countering the threat of Turkish drones.”

Kathimerini noted that the Iron Dome was inspected by the head of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Dimokritos Zervakis, during his visit to Israel last March.

Iron Dome system is a truck-towed, multi-mission mobile air defense system developed to counter very short-range rockets, artillery and mortar threats. The system has been employed by Israel to safeguard locations around Israel from Hamas rocket attacks.

In addition to Israel, Iron Dome is operated by the US Army, which plans to field two Iron Dome batteries as an interim cruise missile defense solution, until an enduring Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 (Inc2) system enters service.

Azerbaijan and Romania also signed deals for the purchases of the Iron Dome batteries in 2021 and 2018.