Nicosia: The Open University of Cyprus (OUC) is actively engaged in the development of the significant high-technology systems under the “Drone Eye” project. The initiative focuses on creating unmanned systems and electronic counter-UAS technologies. Implemented within the ATHENA program framework, the project marks a new phase in the technological advancement of the National Guard. It is funded by the Ministry of Defence and executed in collaboration with the Cypriot company Encorp and Frederick University.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the result is a fully integrated anti-drone system that is vehicle-mounted and entirely manufactured in Cyprus. This system features target-tracking capabilities and can be integrated into a broader Command and Control (C2) system. It is accompanied by a portable anti-drone device developed concurrently. Both systems were presented on 10 November 2025, in the presence of the Minister of Defence, Mr. Vasilis Palmas, the Ministry’s Director General, Mr. Elikkos Elias, and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence.
The project also contributes to strengthening the Greece-Cyprus defense partnership under the SAFE – Security in Europe program, funded by the European Union. This program aims to reinforce Europe’s security and defense capabilities. Within this context, particular emphasis is placed on further developing the defense industry in Cyprus and Greece. The projects are designed to enhance domestic industrial capacity and reduce dependence on external defense sources. Counter-UAS technologies are a top priority for both countries. As the Minister of Defence highlighted, such systems “can act as a force multiplier and serve as a deterrent asset in the National Guard’s arsenal, strengthening Cyprus’s autonomy and independence.”