Israel Shipyards will supply a second offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to the Cyprus Naval Command.
The official government-to-government defence export agreement was signed on Monday by the defence ministries of Israel and Cyprus.
The new Cypriot Navy vessel will be a sister ship to its existing OPV, the Commodore Andreas Ioannides, also built by Israel Shipyards and commissioned in 2018.
The 62-metre warships displace about 500 tons, have a maximum speed of about 32 knots, and a range of around 3,200 nautical miles.
The Commodore Andreas Ioannides carries a Rafael Typhoon Remote Weapon Station (RWS) with a 23mm automatic cannon. It also features integrated launchers for Spike-NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) guided missiles capable of striking both surface vessels and land targets at up to 32km (about 20 miles).
The new OPV will be equipped with a suite of advanced naval systems from Rafael. As part of the total package — estimated at roughly €150 million (£125m) — the systems aboard the Commodore Andreas Ioannides will also receive a major upgrade.
The hull for the new vessel has already been built, and final delivery to the Republic of Cyprus is expected by mid-2028 at the latest.
As per a statement from Israel’s Ministry of Defence: “This agreement marks another important step in strengthening the operational capabilities of the Cyprus Naval Command and enhancing its capacity to respond to maritime security challenges.
“The new OPV, alongside the upgraded OPV Ioannides, will support expanded patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions. By strengthening their capabilities and deepening their partnership, the two countries reaffirm their commitment to regional stability.”
- You can read more details on the Israeli MoD website
