Cyprus, France and Sweden sign a framework agreement for the joint purchase of Akeron MP anti-tank missiles

Cyprus is joining a joint European procurement of anti-tank missiles. France’s defence procurement agency (DGA) announced on Friday, November 6, on the occasion of the Euronaval show in Paris, that Cyprus, France and Sweden had signed a framework agreement for the joint acquisition of Akeron MP missiles from the European MBDA.

The procurement falls under the European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) programme. The French announcement says the purchase will be made mainly with SAFE funding, the European Union’s instrument for joint defence procurement.

What the framework agreement provides

The DGA calls the agreement a “decisive step” in pooling the defence capabilities of the three countries. It also sees it as an expression of their shared will to coordinate their efforts in order to strengthen European sovereignty in defence.

The legal framework it creates has three aims. The first is to bring down the cost of acquisition. The second is for the systems to be able to work together across the armed forces of the three countries. The third concerns the future, as the agreement leaves open the possibility of other European countries joining the scheme. For Cyprus, the joint purchase means a lower acquisition cost and a weapon interoperable with that of the French and Swedish armed forces.

The Akeron MP and its use from boats

The Akeron MP is an MBDA medium-range anti-tank missile. Its mission is to destroy armoured vehicles and fortified targets. The DGA stresses that its guidance system allows precise engagement of targets in different operational environments.

The announcement also refers to its use from boats. When fired from a light craft fitted with a suitable system, it enhances the ability to strike land targets or light naval targets. This is shown by the photo the DGA published with the announcement, with a missile launched from an inflatable boat.

Nicosia’s interest in the Akeron MP is not new. Already in 2024 Cyprus was reported to be preparing to buy Akeron MP missiles and Sherpa vehicles from France. The framework agreement now gives that choice a European character and access to EU funding. The missile has also drawn the Greek defence industry’s attention, as ALTUS LSA has carried out trials with its Kerberos system and the Akeron MP. Euronaval, where the announcement was made, is one of the largest naval defence shows in Europe, and this year it gathered a series of French announcements on armament programmes, among them the MdCN Mk2 naval cruise missile order.