A newly released video dated September 16, 2025, appears to confirm the long-rumored deployment of Israel’s Barak MX air defense system on Cyprus. The move has prompted warnings from Türkiye, which argues it could alter the island’s fragile balance of power. The decision follows years of discussion about replacing aging Russian-made systems, which became increasingly difficult to sustain after 2022 due to sanctions and logistical hurdles.
Barak MX is a modular, network-enabled system capable of intercepting drones, cruise missiles, and aircraft with vertical launch missiles offering full 360-degree coverage. Its MR, LR, and ER interceptors provide layered defense, with the ER variant extending the engagement envelope to roughly 150 km. The system’s battle management network allows sensors and launchers to share a common operational picture and engage targets even when a launcher does not have direct line of sight.
Defense analysts believe Cyprus is focusing on protecting critical sites—air bases, ports, and infrastructure—using dispersed fire units positioned to exploit the island’s terrain. Vertical launchers offer rapid reaction in confined coastal areas, buying valuable seconds against low-flying drones and cruise missiles. However, the system also faces the challenge of saturation attacks, meaning Cyprus will need robust rules of engagement, electronic warfare integration, and point-defense systems to avoid depleting interceptors on low-value threats.
Ankara has described the deployment as destabilizing and warned of potential consequences, recalling tensions similar to the late-1990s S-300 crisis. Nicosia, meanwhile, argues that modern air defense is essential for national security, citing the growing presence of drones and precision-strike weapons in nearby conflict zones.
