Nicosia, Cyprus – On October 26, 2025, Cyprus received the second shipment of Israel’s Barak MX air defense system through Limassol port, bolstering the island’s military capabilities amid rising tensions with Turkey. The modular Barak MX, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), features a range of up to 150 km for interception of drones, cruise missiles, and fighter jets, with radar coverage exceeding 450 km. This deployment, part of a $500 million deal initiated in 2021, replaces outdated Russian systems like Buk M1-2 and Tor-M1, signaling Cyprus’s strategic pivot away from Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Barak MX’s integration at Paphos Air Base and Mari Naval Base enhances Cyprus’s defense against potential threats from the north, where Turkey maintains 35,000 troops in occupied Northern Cyprus since 1974. Turkish analysts, including Arda Mevlütoğlu, labeled the system “more dangerous than the S-300,” cautioning it could share intelligence with Israel, potentially shifting the Eastern Mediterranean’s power balance. Cyprus’s Defense Minister Michalis Georgallas confirmed the delivery, noting its role in safeguarding critical infrastructure.