Cyprus turned down a Greek proposal to transfer dozens of Leopard 1A5 tanks after inspections found them unfit, and is now pursuing the purchase of Israeli Merkava III or IV tanks, according to reports cited by Israeli sources. No deal has been reached yet, partly due to Israel's need to maintain its own tank inventory.
The latest report adds specific details to a story The Zioneer first covered early Tuesday morning. According to reports cited by Israeli sources, Cyprus rejected a Greek proposal to transfer 75–90 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks after technical inspections found the vehicles in poor condition — unsuitable even as a temporary solution.
Nicosia is now seeking a replacement for its aging Russian T-80 tank fleet, whose operation and maintenance have become increasingly complex due to Western sanctions and difficulties obtaining spare parts. The preferred option remains purchasing Israeli-made Merkava tanks, either the Mk III or Mk IV variant, according to the report.
However, no agreement has been reached so far. One factor cited is Israel's need to maintain sufficient tank inventories for the IDF before approving an export deal. If finalized, the acquisition would mark a significant shift for Cyprus from Soviet-era armor to a Western-Israeli weapons system and deepen defense ties between Nicosia and Jerusalem.
2 developments
- DevelopingGreece evaluates deploying two Apache attack helicopters to UAE
- StrongGreece advances major security procurement from Israel, including armed drone capability upgrade
- DevelopingNATO, EU allies press Greece to supply Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine
- StrongUS says Turkey does not yet meet requirements for F-35s
Source and signal
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