NEW DELHI, — May 24, 2026 : India and Cyprus have elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, with defence cooperation emerging as a key area of engagement during Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides’s state visit to India. A major outcome of discussions in New Delhi was Cyprus expressing interest in acquiring India-made drones used during Operation Sindoor, with officials specifically seeking details regarding the Nagastra-1 loitering munition drone developed by Solar Group.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, Cypriot representatives specifically asked for information on the Nagastra-1 drone, which was deployed during Operation Sindoor, India’s May 2025 military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. Officials stated that Cyprus showed interest in systems that demonstrated operational effectiveness under real combat conditions, with the Nagastra-1 emerging as the primary system of identified interest during bilateral discussions.
Focus on Nagastra-1 Drone
The Nagastra-1, manufactured by Solar Group, is an indigenous loitering munition drone designed for surveillance and precision strike missions. The system is capable of remaining airborne over an operational area before engaging designated targets, providing armed forces with rapid-response strike capability while reducing direct risks to personnel.
Officials indicated that Cyprus views such systems as relevant to its broader military modernization efforts, particularly in strengthening aerial surveillance, precision strike capability, and deterrence planning amid evolving security concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus has allocated approximately €1.2 billion for defence modernization, with efforts focused on improving military readiness and operational capabilities.
Cypriot officials emphasized that no procurement decision has been finalized, and discussions remain at an exploratory stage. However, officials acknowledged that the operational performance of Indian defence systems during Operation Sindoor increased confidence in India’s defence manufacturing capabilities and the reliability of indigenous platforms tested under operational conditions.
While broader India-Cyprus defence cooperation was discussed during the visit, officials indicated that the Nagastra-1 drone was the specifically identified platform requested during discussions. Any broader evaluation of additional Indian defence systems remains part of wider exploratory cooperation and has not been formally identified by officials.
Defence Cooperation and Strategic Partnership
To strengthen engagement, India and Cyprus announced a five-year defence cooperation roadmap for 2026–2031, aimed at expanding collaboration in defence manufacturing, maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism coordination, and strategic dialogue.
A business-to-business Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Cyprus Defence and Space Industries Cluster, intended to support industrial partnerships, supply chain cooperation, and future co-development opportunities.
Beyond defence, the newly announced Strategic Partnership expanded cooperation in trade, connectivity, higher education, and institutional coordination. Cyprus also reiterated support for India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
No formal defence acquisition agreement has been concluded so far. However, officials from both countries described the discussions as an important step toward expanding long-term strategic and defence cooperation between New Delhi and Nicosia, with the Nagastra-1 drone emerging as the clearest and specifically identified area of Cypriot interest during the visit.
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