# List of equipment of the Cypriot National Guard

The Cypriot National Guard is a combined arms force and represents the organised air, land and sea capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus. Equipment is mostly imported from other countries, since the country has very limited heavy industrial and commercial industrial capacity due to its small population and land mass (excluding Northern Cyprus).

## Infantry Equipment

This list contains equipment which is in use by the Cypriot National Guard.

### Camouflages

| Model | Origin | Type | Details |
| Camouflages |||||
| Multicam | United States | Camouflage pattern | |
| Woodland Digital | United States | Camouflage pattern | Unused since 2017 |
| UCP | United States | Camouflage pattern | (Retired at an unknown date) |
| Cypriot Sandstone | Cyprus | Camouflage pattern | |
| Greek Lizard | Greece | Camouflage pattern | Used by ELDYK |

### Small Arms

| Model | Origin | Cartridge | Cartridge | Notes |
| Handguns ||||||
| HK USP | Germany | 9x19mm Parabellum | 9x19mm Parabellum | Standard Issue Sidearm. |
| FN Five-Seven | Belgium | FN 5.7×28mm | FN 5.7×28mm | 250 acquired in 2000. |
| Submachine guns ||||||
| FN P90 | Belgium | FN 5.7×28mm | FN 5.7×28mm | 350 acquired in 2000. |
| Assault rifles ||||||
| HK G3 | West Germany Greece | 7.62×51mm NATO | 7.62×51mm NATO | Standard Issue Rifle. The versions operated by the National Guard are mainly the G3A3 and G3A4 (shown in the picture, the upper one is the G3A4 and the lower one is the G3A3). |
| AK-74M | Russia | 5.45×39mm | 5.45×39mm | AK-74M version in use by the National Guard. |
| Vz.58 | Czechoslovakia | 7.62×39mm | 7.62×39mm | Used for a brief period of time by the Special Forces in 2016. |
| Colt M16A2 | United States | 5.56×45mm NATO | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by OYK. |
| Colt M5 | United States | 5.56×45mm NATO | 5.56×45mm NATO | Entered service in 2024, used by OYK. |
| FN SCAR-L | Belgium | 5.56×45mm NATO | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by LOK and OYK. |
| FN SCAR-H (TPR Variant) | Belgium | 7.62×51mm NATO | 7.62×51mm NATO | Used by LOK and OYK. |
| IWI Tavor X95 | Israel | 5.56×45mm NATO | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by LOK. |
| Sniper rifles ||||||
| Accuracy International Arctic Warfare | United Kingdom | .338 Lapua Magnum | .338 Lapua Magnum | Used by the Special Forces. |
| Accuracy International AX50 | United Kingdom | .50 BMG | .50 BMG | Used by the Special Forces. |
| Machine guns ||||||
| MG 3 | West Germany Greece | 7.62×51mm NATO | 7.62×51mm NATO | |
| HK21 | Germany | 7.62×51mm NATO | 7.62×51mm NATO | A variation of the HK G3 with a heavier barrel. |
| FN MAG | Belgium | 7.62×51mm NATO | 7.62×51mm NATO | |
| IWI Negev | Israel | 5.56×45mm NATO | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by mechanised infantry, paratroopers and LOK. |
| Used by mechanised infantry, paratroopers and LOK. ||
| M2 Browning | United States | .50 BMG | .50 BMG | |
| Grenade launchers ||||||
| STK 40 AGL | Singapore | 40 mm grenade | 40 mm grenade | |
| M203 grenade launcher | USA | 40 mm grenade | | |
| Anti-tank weapons ||||||
| M72 LAW | United States | Rocket-propelled grenade | 66mm | |
| RPG-7V | Russia | Rocket-propelled grenade | 85mm | |
| M40A1 | United States | Recoilless rifle | 105mm | 144 M40A1s as of 2016. |
| RAC 112 APILAS | France | Recoilless anti-tank weapon | 112mm | |
| 9M117 Bastion | Russia | Anti-tank guided missile | 100mm | Line-of-sight, beam-riding missile (LOSBR) fired from the BMP-3 IFV. |
| 9M117 Refleks | Russia | Anti-tank guided missile | 125mm | Fired from the 125mm main gun of the T80U and T80UK main battle tanks of the National Guard. |
| MILAN III | France | Anti-tank guided missile | 115mm | |
| SPIKE LR2 | Israel Germany | Anti-tank guided missile | 130mm | To be fitted on LAPV Enok |

## Land Forces
### Transport, Logistics and Support

| Model | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
| Utility/Cargo vehicles |||||
| Ford Ranger Double Cab XL | USA | 60 | |
| Isuzu D-Max Double | Japan | 60 | |
| Mitsubishi Pajero | Japan | | Transferred from Cyprus Police. |

### Armored vehicles

| Model | Origin | Photo | Variant | Quantity | Notes |
| Main battle tanks ||||||
| T-80 | Russia | Cypriot T80U | T-80U | 54 | A total of 82 main battle tanks acquired between 1996 and 2011. May be replaced by Leclerc or Leopard 2. |
| T-80 | Russia | Cypriot T80U | T-80UK | 28 | A total of 82 main battle tanks acquired between 1996 and 2011. May be replaced by Leclerc or Leopard 2. |
| AMX-30 | France | | AMX-30B2 | 52 | Another 61 AMX-30s have been withdrawn from active service and are waiting to be scrapped; some will be kept for museums. To be replaced. |
| Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) ||||||
| BMP-3 | Russia | | BMP-3 (Basic Version) | 43 | Deal worth $68 million, and delivered in 1995–1996. |
| Armored reconnaissance vehicles ||||||
| EE-9 Cascavel | Brazil | | Cascavel Mk IV/V | 126 | Entered service from 1984 to 1988. It has a top speed of 80 km/h off-road and 110 km/h on-road. It is armed with a 90 mm Belgian Cockerill Mk 3 gun, improved day and night optics with laser rangefinder, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft MG. |
| EE-3 Jararaca | Brazil | | EE-3 Tank destroyer | 36 | Entered service from 1984 to 1985, 24 are armed with a MILAN ATGM system. The vehicle has a 3-man crew with a top speed of 100 km/h and is armed with 1 x 20-mm Rh202 autocannon, and 1 x 12.7mm machine gun. |
| Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) ||||||
| ELVO Leonidas | Greece | Greek Leonidas-2 APC | Leonidas-2 | 197 | Based on the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA. |
| VAB | France | | VAB-PC | 4 | A total of 147 vehicles are operated by the National Guard. The VAB VCAC variant is equipped with the Euromissile Mephisto anti-tank missile system. (See infantry weapons above.) |
| VAB | France | | VAB-VTT | 98 | A total of 147 vehicles are operated by the National Guard. The VAB VCAC variant is equipped with the Euromissile Mephisto anti-tank missile system. (See infantry weapons above.) |
| VAB | France | | VAB VCI | 17 | A total of 147 vehicles are operated by the National Guard. The VAB VCAC variant is equipped with the Euromissile Mephisto anti-tank missile system. (See infantry weapons above.) |
| VAB | France | | VAB VCAC | 18 | A total of 147 vehicles are operated by the National Guard. The VAB VCAC variant is equipped with the Euromissile Mephisto anti-tank missile system. (See infantry weapons above.) |
| EE-11 Urutu | Brazil | | Unknown | 10 | Status uncertain. |
| Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) ||||||
| BOV M16 Miloš | Serbia | | Artillery reconnaissance – command vehicle | 8 | Part of a $50 mil. deal that included Nora B-52. Delivered in 2019. The 8 BOV M16 are used as artillery reconnaissance and battery command vehicles for the 24 Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzers of the National Guard. |
| Armored recovery vehicles (ARVs) ||||||
| BREM-80 | Russia | | BREM-80U | 8 | Based on the T-80 chassis. |
| AMX-30 | France | | AMX-30D | 2 | |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle ||||||
| Euromissile Mephisto | France | | | 18 | 18 systems. Mounted on the 18 VAB VCAC APCs of the National Guard with four ready-to-fire HOT-2 anti-tank missiles and eight more in reserve, 500 missiles. |
| LAPV Enok | Germany | | ENOK 4.8 AB | 1 + 59 on order | Armed with Spike LR2 missile. |
| Land Rover Wolf W/ MILAN | France / United Kingdom | | | ? | Multiple systems of MILAN mounted on Land Rover Defender Wolfs. Significant Numbers, exact numbers unknown. 115 mm, Tandem shaped charge with 2 km max range. |

### Artillery

| Model | Origin | Type | Photo | Number | Notes |
| Rocket artillery ||||||
| M-63 Plamen | Yugoslavia | 128mm towed multiple rocket launcher | | 24 | |
| M-77 Oganj | Yugoslavia | 128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | | 8 | Status uncertain. |
| BM-21 Grad | Russia | 122mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | | 4 | Probably second hand. |
| Self-propelled artillery ||||||
| Nora B-52 | Serbia | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | | 24 | First batch received in 2019. |
| Zuzana | Slovakia | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | | 12 | Ordered in 2001 and delivered in 2007 via Greece. |
| Mk F3 155mm | France | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | | 12 | Delivered in 1991. |
| M107 | United States | 175mm self-propelled howitzer | | 12 | |
| M110A2 | United States | 203mm self-propelled howitzer | | 8 | |
| Tatrapan | Slovakia | Artillery command vehicle | | 3 | |
| AMX-VCI | France | Artillery command vehicle | | Unknown | |
| Towed artillery ||||||
| M-56 | Yugoslavia | 105mm towed howitzer | | 72 | Delivered in 1986. |
| M1944 BS-3 | Soviet Union | 100mm towed gun | | 20 | |
| M-114 | United States | 155mm towed howitzer | | 12 | |
| TRF1 | France | 155 mm towed howitzer | French 155 mm TRF1 Towed Artillery | 12 | Delivered in 1991. |
| Mortars ||||||
| E44-E Mortar | Greece | 81 mm mortar | | 180 | |
| M29 Mortar | United States | 81 mm mortar | | Unknown | In use as of 2000. |
| M30 Mortar | United States | 106.7 mm mortar | | 26 | To be fully retired. |
| MO-120-RT | France | 120 mm mortar | 120 mm Mortar | 116 | Delivered in 1990-1991. 12 equipped on mortar carriers. |

## Airforce
### Air defense

| Name | Origin | Type | Photo | In service | Notes |
| Surface-to-air missiles ||||||
| Barak MX | Israel | Surface-to-air missile system | | Possibly 2 batteries. | In operation as of December 2024. |
| TOR M-1 | Soviet Union Russia | Surface to air missile system | | 6 | Delivered by Greece in replacement for the S-300. |
| Buk M1-2 | Soviet Union Russia | Surface to air missile system | | 8 | Total number of systems is unknown. Possibly 2 batteries with 4 systems each. |
| Aspide | United States Italy | Surface to air missile system | | 24 | With 12 Skyguard radars. |
| Mistral | France | Man-portable air defense system | Cypriot SHORAD | 30 (300 missiles) | 18 Mistral MANPADS and 12x2 Mistral Atlas vehicle based systems. More than 300 missiles. More missile on order as of June 2023. |
| 9K32 Strela-2 | Soviet Union Russia | Man-portable air defense system | | 100 | Operational numbers may be less. |
| 9S737M Ranzhir-M | Russia | Mobile command center | | Unknown | Mobile Command Centre for the coordination of the TOR air defense network system |
| Anti aircraft artillery ||||||
| GDF-005 | Switzerland | Anti-aircraft gun | | 24 | 2x35mm anti-aircraft gun. |
| Zastava M-55 | Yugoslavia | Anti-aircraft gun | | 50 | 3x20mm anti-aircraft gun. |

### Aircraft

| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
| Fixed wing aircraft |||||||
| Embraer ERJ-135 | Brazil | VIP Transport | EMB-135BJ | 1 | Donated by Greece to Cyprus in September 2022. The aircraft is used to transport the President of the Republic and other government officials. |
| AIr Tractor AT-802 | United States | Fire-fighting | | 2 | Transferred in February 2025 from the Department of Forests to the newly created fire-fighting unit of the National Guard. |
| Helicopters |||||||
| Airbus H145 | France Germany | Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter | H145M | 2 | 6 on order with an option to buy an additional 6. First 2 delivered in the beginning of 2025. |
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | France | Utility/Anti-tank | Gazelle SA 342L | 4 | Armed with 4 HOT Anti-tank Guided Missiles. |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy | SAR/Utility | AW139 | 5 | Used primarily for Search and Rescue (SAR). |
| Bell 206 | United States | Utility/Transport | LongRanger III | 2 | |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles |||||||
| Aerostar | Israel | Surveillance/Recon | | 4 | +4 on order. |
| IAI Searcher | Israel | Surveillance/Recon | | 2 | |
Retired aircraft include the Mil Mi-35P.

## Naval Forces
### Surface defense

| Name | Origin | Type | Photo | In service | Notes |
| Surface-to-surface missiles ||||||
| MM40 Exocet | France | Mobile surface-to-surface missile | | 3 batteries. | Block 3+ modernization, part of $250 million order , bought alongside Mistral 3 |

### Surface Ships

| Class | Origin | Vessel Type | Name | In Service | Length | Notes |
| Surface Fleet ||||||||
| Al Mumbrukah | United Kingdom | Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) | "Alasia" | 1 | 62m | Gift from the Sultan of Oman, refitted for military purposes in 2017. |
| Saar 62 | Israel | Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) | "Andreas Ioannides" | 1 | 62m | Part of deal for 2 ships of same class from 2017, one of the newest ships of the NG. |
| Rodman 55 | Spain | Fast Assault boat | "Agathos" "Panagos" | 2 | 17m | Acquired in 2002. Used by OYK. |
| RIB 42' SF | Italy | Fast Assault boat | "Nireas 1" "Poseidonas 1 " | 2 | 13m | Used by OYK. |
| FPB C382 | Italy | Fast Patrol Boat | "Eleftherios Tsomakis" "Nikolas Georgiou" | 2 | 27m | |
| Esterel | France | Fast Patrol Boat | "Salamis" | 1 | 32m | Oldest active ship in the National Guard naval forces. Heavily upgraded. |
| FPB | Finland | Multitask Patrol Boat | "Ammochostos" | 1 | 26m | Donated from the ministry of agriculture. |

## Future Procurements

In the last decade, the Cypriot National Guard has pushed for a complete modernization of its capabilities and equipment. In light of the recent lifting of the US imposed embargo of the '80s in 2022, Cyprus has started showing interest on multiple Western weapon systems. Cyprus also being a part of the European Union which means it is part of defensive programs involving other European nations.
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Expected Arrival | Notes |
| Exocet MM40 Block 3 | France | Mobile surface-to-surface missile | Upgrade Package | N/A | The Exocet deal came alongside the orders of new Mistral III MANPAD systems from France in 2021, the deal cost $260 mil. |
| Mistral III | France | SHORAD / MANPADs | Unknown | N/A | The Mistral deal came alongside the orders of new Exocet block 3 systems from France. |
| Saar 62 | Israel | Offshore Patrol Vessel | 1 | N/A | Original deal underlined that 2 Saar 62s would enter service, only one did until now in 2017, order still hasn't been canceled. |
| Airbus H145 | France / Germany | Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter | 6 (+6 option) | First batch 2024 | Ordered in 2021 |
| Akeron MP | France | Fire-and-forget anti-tank Missile | Unknown | Unknown | Deal expected soon along with Sherpa Light. |
| MARSEUS | France Belgium Sweden Cyprus | Beyond Line of sight missile | Unknown | Unknown | PESCO project between multiple European nations coordinated by France to develop a new Beyond line of Sight missile system, Testing of the system was conducted in Cyprus in the summer of 2022. |

## Gallery

* FN P90 submachine gun in the hands of the National Guard during a parade in Larnaca.
* Soldiers of the Special Forces armed with FN SCAR-L assault rifles.
* A National Guard soldier standing still with a G3A3 rifle.
* Cypriot T-80 main battle tanks during the October 1st parade in Nicosia.
* Cypriot VAB-VCAC armored personnel carriers.
* A National Guard's Aérospatiale Gazelle anti-tank helicopter flying during a parade.
* Flag Carriers during the October 1st independence day parades.
* Special Forces fast roping down a helicopter.
* Cypriot Special forces joint training onboard the "Alasia" vessel.
* Cypriot Underwater demolition team "OYK" in joint training with Greek counterparts.
* Cypriot MYK operator with an FN SCAR.