The Cypriot Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed its intention to acquire 41 second-hand T-80U and T-80UK tanks from Russia.
The Cypriot National Guard's Armoured Corps is expected to receive the vehicles - which are no longer in production - from the Russian Army's inventory by mid-2011 for a cost of EUR115 million (USD156 million). An option to acquire 41 additional tanks has been included in the contract.
The MoD said that the required downpayment has already been paid.
Of the 41 MBTs, 27 are of the standard T-80U variant and the remaining 14 are T-80UK command vehicles. The T-80UKs are equipped with the TNA-4-3 tank navigation system, the Shtora-1 self-defence suite and extra radios. According to the plans, the vehicles are destined for the 20th Armoured Brigade's Second Battalion and will replace 52 AMX-30 B2s in service.
