Authorities have acknowledged that a contract for the installation of an ‘anti-drone shield’ has run into trouble, but not aground – at least not yet.
The police – as the contracting authority – was forced to respond to an extensive report by daily Phileleftheros. The newspaper reported that the contractor – a Greek company – faces difficulty in implementing the €1.65 million project.
The Greek company won the bid in September 2021, while the actual contract with the Cypriot police was signed in February 2022. Since then, said Phileleftheros, little if anything has been done.
The project was supposed to be delivered by the end of this year. Citing its sources, the paper said the contractor has requested a one-year extension.
In its statement, the police conceded that “certain issues have arisen in the interim.” But it also said that the final date of delivery remains end of December 2024.
The police also acknowledged that a meeting chaired by the justice minister was held earlier this month to evaluate progress.
The force went on to reproach Phileleftheros for potentially revealing sensitive information pertaining to national security.
According to the paper, the anti-drone system is to be installed at five points across the island: the presidential palace, the central prisons, police headquarters and the airports in Larnaca and Paphos.
Regarding the aspect of the central prisons, it has been reported that people using drones attempted on a number of occasions to deliver packages to inmates at the facility.
From its investigation, Phileleftheros found that the software designated in the contract for jamming drones may now be obsolete. Experts told the publication that although the software can detect drones, it cannot also jam them as technology has advanced since the signing of the contract. Not being able to jam drones makes the system effectively unfit for purpose.
According to the paper’s information, the contractor has cited problems fulfilling the contract, such as “disruption” due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but also that one of its subcontractors in Canada has since gone bankrupt.
Phileleftheros said that Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis has given instructions for a ‘Plan B’ if the contractor doesn’t come through. Presumably this means terminating the contractor and launching another tender from scratch.
Earlier, the newspaper had revealed that the matter had been brought to the attention of the auditor-general. Those filing the complaint to the Audit Office alleged that the selected contractor did not possess the technical wherewithal to fulfill the contract.
