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Military of Cyprus
Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	males 15-49:184,352 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	males 15-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males 6,578 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$294 million (FY03)
Percent of GDP	3.8% (FY02)

The Military of Cyprus comprises the Cypriot National Guard, a combined arms force with land, naval and air elements.

Greece maintains the Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK) on the island, but this is not part of the Republic of Cyprus military.

This article focuses on the forces loyal to the de jure government of Cyprus. For information on the military capabilities of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, see Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus.

Contents 1 Conscription 2 Equipment 3 Combat Vehicles 3.1 Main Battle Tanks 3.2 Armoured Fighting Vehicles 3.3 Armoured Personnel Carriers 3.4 Self-Propelled Artillery 3.5 Towed Artillery 4 Air Force 5 Navy and Coast Guard 6 See also 7 References

See main article: Conscription in Cyprus

Military service in the Republic of Cyprus is mandatory for males. The minimum obligatory service period is 25 months.^[1]

All male visitors to the island of military age (16 and over) who have a father of Cypriot extraction are required to obtain an exit visa from a Defence Ministry office.

The United States has an arms embargo on any recent US weapons being used by either side. The Greek Cypriot side was recently criticised for breaching this embargo by acquiring M107, M110A2 and M114 howitzers (subsequently returned) from the Greek National Army.

The Turkish Cypriot side, which controls approximately 37% of the island, has also been heavily criticised for numerous breaches of the embargo as 95% of it's military hardware is of US origin (still not returned) compared to 3-5% of the Republic.

Standard infantry equipment used in Cyprus is the Heckler & Koch G3 automatic rifle, both by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Forces.

• AMX 30 (Type: AMX-30 and AMX30B2)
• T-80 (Type: T-80U and T-80UK)
• M48 (Type: M48A5, belonging to the Greek Army, stationed in Cyprus)

• BMP-3
• VAB-VCI
• VAB-VCAC (UTM-800 HOT Missile Launcher)
• EE-3 Jararaca (Milan / MG)
• EE-9 Cascavel

• Leonidas-I/II (APC designed and manufactured by ELVO in Greece)
• VAB-VTT

• Zuzana
• Mk F-3
• PLZ-45 (70 on order from China at approx $110 Million)

• TRF-1
• M56
• M101
• M1944

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2]	Notes
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France	scout helicopter	SA 342L	4
Bell 206	United States	utility helicopter	206B	2
Britten-Norman Islander	United Kingdom	utility	BN-2B	1
Mil Mi-35	Russia	attack helicopter	Mi-35	11
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	trainer		1

In addition three aircraft are operated on police and paramilitary duties:

• 2 x Bell 412
• 1 x Britten-Norman BN-2T Islander

The Cyprus Navy is equipped with CNV P-190 fast patrol craft, Salamis class patrol craft, Kyrenia class patrol craft and SAB-12 fast attack craft.

The Cyprus Coast Guard is equipped with CNV P-190 fast patrol craft, Evagoras class patrol craft, Kingfisher class fast patrol craft and Kimon class fast patrol craft.

Both services also utilize Nautimar HD-7 and other types of dual-engine rigid-inflatable boats.

The Cyprus Navy has a Special Forces underwater demolitions unit known as "OYK".

• Cyprus
• Cypriot National Guard
• British Forces Cyprus

Military of Cyprus
Cypriot National Guard