Cyprus orders 12 French Sherpa armored vehicles equipped with Akeron missiles to support anti-tank missions.

On May 7, 2025, the French company Arquus announced during the DEFEA 2025 defence exhibition in Athens a contract to deliver 12 Sherpa Station Wagon armored vehicles to the Republic of Cyprus. These vehicles will be equipped with MBDA’s Akeron MP missile system. The agreement, formalized between France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, is part of a bilateral partnership aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of land defence systems. Arquus will be responsible for both vehicle delivery and integration of the Akeron missile onto the Sherpa platform. This delivery follows previous French-Cypriot discussions initiated during a meeting between President Níkos Christodoulídis and President Emmanuel Macron.
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Cyprus has ordered 12 Sherpa Station Wagon vehicles from France, each equipped with Akeron missiles, to serve as mobile anti-tank platforms capable of conducting beyond line of sight (BLOS) strikes. (Picture source: MBDA)

During DEFEA, a Cypriot Ministry of Defence delegation led by Permanent Secretary Anna Aristotelous and National Director of Armament Panayiotis Symeou visited the Arquus stand, where they were received by Arquus CEO Emmanuel Levacher. The vehicle exhibited was configured with both MBDA’s Akeron MP missile and Hornet Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). This contract represents the first confirmed instance of the Sherpa-Akeron configuration ordered for operational use by Cyprus. According to statements made during DEFEA, Arquus considers this agreement as the first step toward further bilateral programs between the company and the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, including the potential modernization of existing vehicle fleets.

The Sherpa Station Wagon variant is part of the Sherpa Light 4x4 family and is designed for tactical operations such as reconnaissance, internal security, and systems transport. The vehicle is available with modular configurations, including STANAG 4569 armored protection. It measures approximately 5.9 meters in length, 2.2 meters in width, and 2.1 meters in height, with a combat weight of up to 11 tonnes and a payload capacity of up to 2 tonnes. Powered by a 215 to 265 hp diesel engine and equipped with rigid axles and coil spring suspension, it can reach speeds between 110 and 120 km/h and has a range of 800 to 900 km.

The Akeron MP missile, previously designated as the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée), is a fifth-generation guided weapon developed by MBDA France. It is capable of fire-and-forget and man-in-the-loop operation with lock-on before and after launch modes. The system can engage targets between 150 meters and 5 kilometers away, including both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) targets. The missile integrates infrared and television guidance with a fiber optic datalink and features an inertial navigation system developed using MEMS technology. Its tandem HEAT warhead can penetrate over 1,000 mm of rolled homogeneous armor and more than 2,000 mm of reinforced concrete. The warhead also includes a fragmentation sleeve for anti-personnel use. The missile weighs 15 kg, including its launch tube, and the firing post adds an additional 11 kg.

Originally developed by MBDA France between 2010 and 2015 to replace the MILAN and Javelin systems, the Akeron MP entered service in 2018 as a fifth-generation guided missile designed for both infantry and vehicle use. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Cyprus has participated in the LynkEUs program, a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) initiative launched in 2020 and coordinated by MBDA. The program focuses on defining and demonstrating a European BLOS capability. In September 2022, test firings of the Akeron MP missile were conducted in Cyprus as part of this project. Two missiles were launched from a Sherpa vehicle equipped with an IMPACT turret. The targets, located between 2,500 and 3,000 meters away, were designated by a Novadem NX70 micro UAV transmitting data through a cyber-secure link. One of the firings was conducted with the UAV operator located inside the Sherpa vehicle, representing a standalone configuration, while the second involved the UAV operator stationed in a separate vehicle located one kilometer away, demonstrating a collaborative configuration. Both missiles hit their designated targets.

These firings were conducted during a LynkEUs event held on 28–29 September 2022 at a Cypriot National Guard base, which included static and dynamic presentations of technologies such as 3D modeling, cyber protection, and UAV navigation. Demonstrations also included micro-UAVs equipped with European infrared sensors and unmanned ground vehicles with observation and targeting functions. The test campaign marked the first use of a full BLOS capability firing chain from a vehicle platform, and MBDA has cited these firings as a validation step for the operational integration of the system.

The LynkEUs project includes partners such as FN Herstal, John Cockerill Defense, Thales, Safran, The Cyprus Institute, the Royal Military Academy, SignalGeneriX, and national defence ministries of France, Belgium, and Cyprus. Additional subcontractors include DELAIR, Milrem Robotics, and CARMENTA. Cypriot firm SignalGeneriX is an active participant in the LynkEUs consortium. The project was selected in 2020 under grant agreement No. EDIDP-NGPSC-2019-014-LynkEUs and is aligned with the EU BLOS capability objective adopted in November 2018 within the PESCO framework.

The MARSEUS project (Modular Architecture Solutions for EU States), coordinated by MBDA and selected in 2022 under the European Defence Fund, is intended to continue the development of European BLOS architecture. It will examine additional features, including extended range, collaborative combat capabilities, and training systems, with the goal of further maturing BLOS systems under European design authority. The September 2022 test in Cyprus, using a Sherpa with an IMPACT turret and Novadem NX70 UAV, confirmed the feasibility of this BLOS concept. A Memorandum of Understanding with French manufacturers was also mentioned in reports prior to the formal agreement.

Developed in France as a modular 4x4 vehicle family, the Sherpa includes several variants such as the Scout for reconnaissance and patrol, the Station Wagon for internal security and systems transport, and the Carrier designed for integration of weapon systems. (Picture source: Arquus)

In addition to the Sherpa-Akeron acquisition, Cyprus is pursuing a modernization program for its existing fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 VAB armored vehicles operated by the National Guard. This effort will involve local industrial participation coordinated through the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CARIE), in line with national policy guidelines established by President Christodoulídis. The contract’s localization aspects follow the model being applied in Greece, where Arquus has delivered 240 Light Armored Vehicles (VBL) to the Hellenic Army. These are currently undergoing upgrades at Greek Army maintenance workshops, with a 25% localization requirement and the integration of electronic subsystems from the Greek defence industry, as outlined by Greek Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias.

Cyprus is a longstanding customer of French defence systems, having imported nearly €310 million in French military equipment between 2013 and 2022. In 2023, the country joined a procurement consortium with Belgium, Estonia, and Hungary for the joint acquisition of over 1,000 Mistral air defence missiles. The current agreement for 12 Sherpa-Akeron units adds a mobile precision strike component to Cyprus’ ground forces and is considered a continuation of its established procurement strategy centered on European-made systems.

Arquus produces the Sherpa Light vehicle family in various configurations, including the Station Wagon variant acquired by Cyprus. The platform supports modular armament options and offers compatibility with systems such as the Alakran 120 mm mortar, Hornet RCWS, and various remote weapon stations. Vehicles have been sold to multiple countries, including Egypt, Brazil, Indonesia, Kuwait, France, and Chile. For the Cypriot order, Arquus is delivering a version configured for integration with the Akeron MP, enabling networked precision fires.

With this procurement, Cyprus becomes one of the confirmed international users of the Akeron MP, alongside France, Egypt, and future users such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden. The missile is currently being considered by other potential operators, including Austria, Greece, Portugal, and Qatar. Integration programs with vehicles such as the EBRC Jaguar and future UAVs such as Altus’ Atlas 8 are also in development.