The Nigerian military in partnership with Briech UAS, the largest drone manufacturers in the country, on Wednesday, showcased its advanced drones, missiles, and bombs at its facility in Kuje, Abuja.
Although the technical details were not revealed, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa highlighted that the drone will act as a force multiplier, greatly improving the operational efficiency of the Nigerian military.
The launch, which took place in the country’s capital, was a major turning point in the company’s efforts to fortify the nation’s security infrastructure.
The Chief of Defence Staff and event chairman, added that the event was a major step in enhancing national security capabilities and a turning point in Nigeria’s path towards defense technology self-reliance.
“As the precision and efficiency of drones are critical in gathering intelligence and executive decisive actions against threats, in an era where security threats are increasingly complex and asymmetric, these force multipliers will play a vital role in enhancing the operational effectiveness of our military and other areas,” he said.
“By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces its dependence on foreign resources, ensures prompt acquisition, and strengthens its ability to respond swiftly to security threats.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria welcomes this development as it enhances our ability to acquire the much-needed assets without delays associated with the international procurement system.
For us, this will significantly improve our professional readiness while ensuring long-term sustainability,” he added.
Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau state, speaking about the drone launch, underlined that recognizing and backing local products was essential to Nigeria’s development.
He also revealed that some of these domestically produced technology is currently being deployed in his state, as reported by PremiumTimes.
This is being done to combat insurgency. He made sure to highlight the fact that his administration was collaborating with regional drone and bomb producers such as Briech UAS.
“As a nation, we made a mistake by allowing non-state actors to acquire capabilities that nearly rival those of state actors,” the governor stated.
“We have entered into a partnership that has enabled the deployment of these facilities in our state,” he added.
Nigeria’s fleet has long been supported by foreign-made drones, such as the US Aerosonde and Chinese Wing Loong II.