Renewal of the National Guard's Battle Tank Fleet: Options and Challenges
September 28, 2026
The National Guard is facing the need to renew its fleet of battle tanks, as the existing vehicles are outdated and require modern capabilities. The Israeli Merkava is considered the most cost-effective option due to geographical proximity and easy support logistics. However, delays in finalizing the agreement are attributed to Israel's operational needs to keep its forces fully equipped. The Cypriot side is determined to proceed with the acquisition and is pressing for urgent developments. The cost for the upgraded Merkava Mk 4 is estimated at around 10 million euros per vehicle.