Cyprus to debut Israeli-made Barak MX air defense system at Independence Day parade

The Cypriot National Guard will publicly showcase its newly acquired Israeli-made Barak MX air defense system for the first time during the Independence Day military parade on October 1. Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas confirmed the display, describing the event as an upgraded celebration of the Republic’s sovereignty. The system, which features interceptor missiles capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 150 kilometers, is intended to replace aging Russian-made Tor-M1 and Buk systems. It is designed to intercept a wide range of threats, including fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.

International representation at the parade will include Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and a contingent of the Egyptian armed forces, alongside other allied units. Ahead of these events, Minister Palmas is scheduled to travel to Cairo for a trilateral meeting with his Greek and Egyptian counterparts to review defense cooperation, training, and regional security. During his public comments, Palmas also addressed the rising tensions regarding the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), noting that while Cyprus will take necessary defensive measures, it seeks to avoid dangerous escalation resulting from frequent incursions by Turkish aircraft.