Ethiopia and Nigeria are forging closer defence and technology ties through a new partnership to co-develop a fleet of African-made drones for both civilian and military use. The collaboration highlights a growing ambition among African states to reduce reliance on imported unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and build indigenous capacity in the fast-expanding drone sector.

As part of the initiative, Ethiopian officials recently hosted members of the Nigerian Air Force on tours of the country’s aircraft manufacturing and maintenance facilities. Nigeria, in turn, pledged a reciprocal visit to showcase its military training institutions and research hubs.

The partnership comes at a time when UAVs are increasingly central to both national security and economic development. While imports from China, Iran, and Turkey currently dominate Africa’s drone market, countries such as Nigeria and Ethiopia are positioning themselves as continental leaders in production.

Nigeria already has a head start. The country produced its first locally built UAV, the Tsaigumi, in 2018 for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It has since expanded capabilities, unveiling the Damisa kamikaze drone in collaboration with Nigerian technology firm Briech UAS. Abuja is also home to TerraHaptix, Africa’s largest drone factory, with capacity to manufacture up to 10,000 drones annually.

Ethiopia, meanwhile, took a significant step forward in March with the inauguration of its state-run SkyWin Aeronautics Industry in Addis Ababa, marking the country’s formal entry into drone manufacturing.

The Ethiopia–Nigeria partnership also reflects wider continental momentum. Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, and Morocco are all investing heavily in UAV development. Morocco, for instance, opened a new factory in 2024 to assemble Israeli-made WanderB and ThunderB drones, which are already being deployed for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and target acquisition.

For both Ethiopia and Nigeria, the collaboration offers a chance not only to bolster their defence industries but also to shape a distinctly African approach to UAV technology. If successful, the partnership could reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and place Africa more firmly on the global map of drone innovation.