During the Talos I - 2022 exercises, the air defense units of the National Guard of the Republic of Cyprus marched in a mountainous area.
In some areas, the equipment had to move along a fairly narrow winding road with steep ascents. But, thanks to the skill of the driver mechanics and the high reliability of Russian-made combat vehicles, all the tasks were successfully completed.
The sky of the island is guarded by anti-aircraft missile systems "Buk-M1-2" and "Tor-M1". According to various sources, the number of the first is about ten units, they were purchased directly from Russia, the second - twice as many, it is known that Greece provided them.
The fact is that in the second half of the 90s, Cyprus purchased two S-300PMU-1 divisions to strengthen its air defense. However, this contract caused a negative reaction from Turkey and Western states. Ankara even began to threaten pre-emptive attacks on the still undeveloped complexes. It was reported that its attack aircraft began to practice bombing attacks on mock-ups of launchers during the exercises.
However, this "missile crisis" in the Mediterranean was resolved quite successfully. Cyprus handed over its "three hundredths" to Greece, and she deployed them on the island of Crete, where they are still on duty. Instead, the 9K331 Tor-M1 air defense systems were delivered, having a shorter range (up to 12,000 meters), but capable of effectively destroying airplanes and helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, unguided and guided missiles, various samples of precision weapons at altitudes from 10 to 6000 meters.
"Buk-M1-2" can, in turn, shoot down objects located at a distance of up to 45,000 meters and flying 25,000 meters from the ground.
In both complexes, tracked vehicles with powerful engines are used as chassis, which accelerate to 65 km/h on the highway. The power reserve is 500 km.
In addition to these air defense systems, the National Guard is also armed with Russian Mi-35P combat helicopters, Mi-17 transport helicopters, BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, T-80U and T-80UK main tanks.
Alexey Moiseev