Cyprus and France successfully carried out a joint air-defence exercise across the Republic, simulating military installations of the National Guard being attacked by figher jets, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The exercise, named Talos 2021, took place as France’s aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle is present in the wider east Mediterranean.

Rafale fighter jets entered in two formations at low altitude, simulating an attack and testing the National Guard’s (NG) air defence response system.

Personnel of the NG and French Armed Forces held joint training sessions, exchanging experience with a particular focus on air defence.

The exercise came amid warm relations between France and Cyprus and as part of the bilateral defence cooperation programme.

Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides, along with senior members of the National Guard, attended the military exercises.