Nicosia: The latest technological developments in the field of defence, as well as the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of modern defence operations, were highlighted at a conference entitled “Cyprus National Guard Digital Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” which took place on November 11 and 12 in Nicosia, under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Dr. Panayiotis Hadjipavlis, Director of General Procurements and Defence Capabilities Development of the Ministry of Defence, discussed Cyprus’ participation in the SAFE mechanism of the European Union. The SAFE regulation, adopted in 2024, establishes a framework to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial capacity and enhance coordination in armaments procurement, with $150 billion loans invested in member states to upgrade operational capabilities and address the shortcomings of the European Union in joint procurement.
Hadjipavlis explained that SAFE aims to make the EU more capable, coordinated, and competitive in the defence sector. It complements the European Defence Fund by supporting the mass production and acquisition phase of defence programmes, bridging the gap between innovation and operational capability. Cyprus places high importance on aligning its defence planning with European initiatives and seeks to fill important capability gaps and operational needs.
He emphasized that Cyprus is pursuing the modernisation of its defence systems through participation in joint procurement schemes, focusing on areas such as ammunition and missile stocks, drone and anti-drone systems, and electronic warfare systems. The goal is also to embed Cypriot enterprises, particularly SMEs, into European defence supply chains, leveraging local industrial capacities to connect with European consortia under SAFE.
Hadjipavlis highlighted that apart from SAFE, the Cyprus Ministry of Defence has established a strategic plan for developing the local defence industrial ecosystem, investing in research partnerships with universities and technology centres. The SAFE programme provides Cyprus with an opportunity to enhance the operational capability of the National Guard and strengthen its defence industrial and technological base, enabling Cyprus companies to participate in EU projects.
Yossi Pinto, Business Development and Market Director at Rafael, discussed upgrading armoured platforms with integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System capabilities. Rafael has developed mobile and agile counter-UAS systems for force protection against aerial threats, enhancing operational efficiency and safety for ground manoeuvring forces.
Dr. Georgios Kioumourtzis, CEO of IANUS Technologies, emphasized the evolving definition of national security, which now requires the mobilisation of various entities beyond the Ministry of Defence. AI-driven command superiority is crucial for enhancing decision-making speed and precision, with IANUS’s Maestro platform designed to unify operational data and secure communications for effective coordination.
Nikolaos Drosos, European Programmes Director of Delian Alliance Industries, highlighted the company’s capability in deploying electronic warfare systems with modular architecture, capable of transitioning from detection to effect without human delay.