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Imagine a drone hovering over a power plant, a port, or even an airport without anyone noticing. That’s the risk Cyprus is facing, seven years after first trying to protect its critical infrastructure from unmanned aerial vehicles and still coming up empty-handed.
The Cyprus Police tried twice, in 2018 and 2021, to buy drone detection and jamming systems, but both attempts failed. A recent Audit Office report points to weak planning, poor oversight, and contractors that couldn’t deliver.
The 2021 contract was meant to roll out systems in three phases over three years, but deadlines were vague, technical specs didn’t always match manufacturers’ information, and the contractor’s track record wasn’t properly checked. After repeated delays and failed tests, the contract was terminated in April 2025. Advance payments and guarantees of around €580,000 were seized, but no systems were installed.
Auditors warn that without these defenses, key sites, including ports, airports, hospitals, and energy facilities, remain exposed to potential drone threats, from accidental crashes to malicious attacks. “After more than seven years and two failed tenders, the Republic’s critical infrastructure still lacks protection against UAVs,” the report says.
The Audit Office calls the gap “unacceptable,” emphasizing that drones are no longer just gadgets in the sky, they’re real security risks, and Cyprus is still playing catch-up.
