Serbia and Cyprus Sign Defense Cooperation Memorandum, Eye Joint Production of Autonomous Systems

Serbia and Cyprus have signed a new defense cooperation memorandum aimed at expanding joint procurement, industrial partnerships and military technology development, with unmanned and autonomous systems identified as potential areas for future cooperation.

The memorandum was signed on October 6 by Nenad Miloradović, Serbia's acting assistant minister of defense for material resources, and Stelios Kountouris, director general of the Cypriot Ministry of Defence.

According to the Serbian Ministry of Defence, the agreement establishes a framework for joint procurement of weapons and military equipment, industrial cooperation, and research and development projects.

The two countries are particularly interested in unmanned and autonomous aerial, ground and surface systems. Serbian officials said these technologies could become areas for joint development and production, although no specific projects or manufacturing agreements have been announced.

The signing took place during a visit by a Serbian delegation that included representatives of state-owned defense company Jugoimport-SDPR.

During meetings with Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas and senior procurement officials, the delegation reviewed existing contracts involving Serbian defense manufacturers and discussed expanding cooperation to newer weapon systems being developed for the Serbian Armed Forces.

From arms exports to industrial cooperation

Cyprus is already an established customer of Serbia's defense industry.

Its National Guard operates Serbian-made Nora B-52 155 mm self-propelled howitzers. In June 2025, Cypriot artillery personnel completed additional training in Serbia involving the systems, according to the Serbian Ministry of Defence.

The relationship has increasingly extended beyond equipment deliveries.

At the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris in June 2026, Jugoimport-SDPR signed a separate memorandum with Cypriot technology company CELLOCK covering the potential joint development and production of modern combat systems.

That agreement preceded the latest government-level memorandum and provides an example of the growing industrial links between the two countries.

During the October visit, Serbian representatives also toured Cypriot defense companies and research institutions to assess their technological capabilities and discuss possible future partnerships.

Cyprus, as a European Union member, participates in European defense initiatives and has access to EU funding mechanisms. Serbia's Ministry of Defence highlighted the potential relevance of Cyprus's expanding high-technology defense sector to Serbia's own military development priorities.

However, neither government has announced a specific jointly funded project under the new agreement.

The latest memorandum follows a Status of Forces Agreement signed by Serbia and Cyprus in December 2025, which provided an additional framework for bilateral military cooperation.

The new arrangement broadens that relationship toward defense procurement, technological development and potential joint manufacturing. Whether those ambitions lead to specific programs will depend on subsequent agreements between government institutions and industrial partners.