Israel Sells Armed Patrol Ship to Cyprus for $150 Million

By אודי עציון

Translated & summarized from Walla by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 16 newsrooms covering

Israel will supply Cyprus with a new armed offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in a deal worth approximately $150 million. The agreement was signed by defense officials from both countries, with Israel Shipyards building the vessel and Rafael providing naval systems. Cyprus will also upgrade its existing OPV, strengthening defense ties between the two nations.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Israel will supply Cyprus with a new armed offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for approximately $150 million.
The deal was signed by Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amir Yaron and Cypriot Deputy Permanent Secretary Stelios Kontouris.
The new vessel will be built by Israel Shipyards and equipped with naval systems from Rafael.
Cyprus will also upgrade its existing OPV, which was also built by Israel Shipyards.
The agreement strengthens the defense relationship between Israel and Cyprus.
The OPVs are based on the Sa'ar 4.5 fast attack craft design.

Israel Sells Armed Patrol Ship to Cyprus for $150 Million — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israel and Cyprus have solidified their defense ties with a significant agreement where Israel will supply Cyprus with a new armed offshore patrol vessel (OPV). The deal, valued at approximately $150 million, was signed in Cyprus by the Director General of Israel's Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Yaron, and his Cypriot counterpart, Stelios Kontouris, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Cypriot Ministry of Defense.

The new vessel will be built by Israel Shipyards and equipped with naval systems from Rafael. In addition to the new ship, Cyprus will also upgrade its existing OPV, which was also built by Israel Shipyards and entered service in 2018. The OPVs are based on the Sa'ar 4.5 fast attack craft design, measuring 62 meters in length with a displacement of 500 tons and a top speed of around 30 knots.

This order marks the second OPV for Cyprus from Israel Shipyards, following an initial purchase in 2016. The sale strengthens Cyprus's naval capabilities and reinforces the strategic defense relationship between the two Mediterranean nations, particularly in the context of regional security concerns involving Turkey.

The signing ceremony in Cyprus was attended by key officials, including the head of the Defense Ministry's Sibat Directorate, Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Shuli Davidovich, Israel Shipyards CEO Eitan Zuker, and Ran Tavor, head of the Naval Systems Directorate at Rafael.