Cyprus unveils Serbian Tamnava rocket launchers at Independence Day parade 2025.

Cyprus unveiled Serbian-made Tamnava multiple rocket launchers during its Independence Day parade in Nicosia on October 1, 2025. The move highlights the deepening of defense ties with Serbia and marks a new regional step in military modernization.

The Cypriot National Guard showcased Serbian-made Tamnava multiple rocket launcher systems during its Independence Day parade in Nicosia on October 1, 2025. It marks the first confirmed operational deployment of Tamnava outside Serbia, signaling closer defense cooperation between Cyprus and Belgrade.
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The Cypriot National Guard's Tamnava modular multiple rocket launcher system, showcased for the first time during the Independence Day military parade in Nicosia on October 1, 2025, is mounted on a MAN TGS 8×8 chassis. (Picture source X account BabakTaghvaee1)

During the parade, three Tamnava launchers were observed equipped with 122 mm rocket pods, bypassing the system’s larger 262 mm configuration. The 122 mm rockets deliver a range of approximately 40 km, while the 262 mm variants can extend the system’s reach to up to 70 km, significantly enhancing Cyprus’ stand-off artillery capability. Notably, the Cypriot variant departs from the standard Serbian design by integrating the launchers onto German-built MAN TGS 8×8 trucks rather than the original FAP chassis, indicating customization for operational preferences and possibly greater logistical interoperability with existing European systems.

While the Cyprus National Guard has not formally confirmed the total number of units procured, defense sources familiar with the program suggest that Cyprus may have received at least a full battery of six launchers. Only three were displayed publicly, raising questions about whether the remaining vehicles are undergoing testing, training integration, or were withheld for operational security reasons. This unveiling confirms Cyprus’ previously unverified acquisition, and places it among a select few European militaries fielding advanced modular MLRS systems.

The Tamnava system, developed by Serbia’s state-owned defense company Yugoimport SDPR, is a new-generation modular multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) designed to deliver fast, flexible, and highly automated indirect fire support. The Tamnava is unique among non-NATO MLRS platforms in that it employs a dual-pod configuration capable of launching both 122 mm and 262 mm caliber rockets from standardized, containerized launch modules. Each pod is modular, preloaded, and can be replaced or reloaded in the field using the system’s integrated hydraulic crane.

This design enables Tamnava to deploy a wide variety of rocket types—ranging from saturation fire using standard HE 122 mm warheads to longer-range, more precise strikes using 262 mm munitions, including those potentially guided by inertial navigation or GPS. The 122 mm module accommodates up to 24 rockets per pod (48 total), while the 262 mm configuration supports six rockets per pod (12 total), depending on warhead type. In a battlefield scenario, operators can tailor rocket loadouts to mission profiles, enhancing flexibility while reducing logistical burden.

In terms of fire control and targeting, Tamnava incorporates automated navigation, orientation, and fire control systems, allowing it to transition rapidly from movement to firing mode in under three minutes. The system’s computerized fire control unit receives mission data from command posts or reconnaissance assets, calculates firing solutions, and allows for precise salvos with minimal crew input. This automation reduces crew fatigue and vulnerability during shoot-and-scoot operations—a key tactical requirement in modern artillery doctrine.

With a maximum road speed exceeding 80 km/h and an operational range of over 600 km, Tamnava launchers can be deployed quickly across a national territory or repositioned in response to shifting battlefield conditions. Its MAN-based chassis in the Cypriot configuration also offers improved reliability, spare parts availability, and tactical mobility across both urban and off-road environments.

Strategically, this acquisition shifts the balance of firepower in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus’ rocket artillery inventory has until now relied primarily on aging BM-21 Grad and M-63 Plamen systems, both legacy platforms of limited range and accuracy. The Tamnava’s arrival introduces a new level of survivability, responsiveness, and lethality into the National Guard’s ground-based strike options. In any future high-intensity scenario, particularly one involving maritime or cross-border threats, the Tamnava offers the potential for rapid area denial, counter-battery response, or saturation attack capabilities within NATO’s southern flank.

For Serbia, this delivery represents a significant export success and a political signal that its defense products are gaining traction among European partners. Analysts note that Cyprus’ adoption of Tamnava could pave the way for additional regional sales, especially given the growing interest across NATO’s southeastern perimeter in affordable, modernized artillery platforms. Greek analysts in particular are watching closely, as Athens considers similar investments to upgrade its own indirect fire capabilities.

Despite the strategic leap, several operational questions remain. It is still unclear whether Cyprus plans to integrate the larger 262 mm rockets, which offer extended range but demand more sophisticated targeting and logistical support. Additionally, the adoption of a Serbian system raises concerns about NATO interoperability, given Cyprus’ close alignment with European Union defense initiatives and its strategic reliance on Western systems. Full integration will likely require new investments in compatible C4ISR infrastructure, as well as advanced training programs to fully leverage the Tamnava’s modular and automated features.

Whether this high-profile debut marks a symbolic one-time show of strength or the beginning of a broader doctrinal shift in Cypriot artillery warfare will depend on the National Guard’s ability to institutionalize the system into its force structure. If successfully integrated, Tamnava could become a central pillar in Cyprus’ evolving defense posture, reinforcing deterrence and expanding tactical options in a volatile region.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.