Decades in Service, First Foreign Sale? Israel's Merkava Tank May Go to Cyprus

Cyprus's National Guard is actively seeking a successor to its Russian-made T-80U main battle tanks, with its sights set on Israel's Merkava tanks. Cypriot media outlet 'Phileleftheros' reports that the nation is urging Israel to release a significant number of Merkava Mark III or Mark IV tanks.

Should this transaction materialize, Cyprus would become the first foreign military force to operate the Merkava, signifying a strategic move by its army to accelerate its transition away from Russian-made armaments. Cyprus has historically relied on Russian military hardware, but the ongoing war in Ukraine has complicated the acquisition of Russian spare parts, ammunition, and technical support, leading to escalating maintenance costs for its T-80U tanks.

Notably, Greece had previously offered to transfer 75 to 90 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks to Cyprus. Cypriot military personnel inspected these vehicles in Greece but ultimately determined that even as interim equipment, they would not meet the nation's operational requirements, preventing the transfer.

In contrast, the Merkava tank remains a more favored option for Cyprus. The Merkava III is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore cannon and a diesel engine producing approximately 1200 horsepower. Acquiring it would allow Cyprus to shift from Russian 125mm tank ammunition to the Western standard 120mm ammunition. The Merkava IV offers enhanced protection, digital systems, and survivability, though the extent of Israel's willingness to export its technology remains unclear.

Israel had previously evaluated exporting used Merkava tanks in 2023. However, the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, led to older tanks originally designated for export being repurposed for reserve units and force rebuilding efforts. Currently, there are differing opinions within Israel regarding the release of these tanks, making refurbished Merkava III models a more probable export option. Given Cyprus's proximity to Israel and similar operational environments, procuring Merkava tanks would offer advantages in terms of spare parts, maintenance, training, and technical support. If this defense deal is finalized, it would not only mark the first complete export of the Merkava tank in its decades-long service history but also deepen defense cooperation between Israel and Cyprus.