Home News Niger Acquires Advanced Turkish Aksungur Drones to Improve Aerial Surveillance, Strike Capabilities
NewsSecurity

Niger Acquires Advanced Turkish Aksungur Drones to Improve Aerial Surveillance, Strike Capabilities

1.1k
Niger Turkish Aksungur Drones

The Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) has acquired Turkish-made Aksungur drones to enhance their aerial surveillance and strike capabilities, military officials confirmed.

As part of the procurement, six pilots and six payload operators from Niger have completed specialised training at the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy.

The programme included 330 hours of theoretical instruction 318 flight sorties, and 280 hours of hands-on flight training, according to Abdourahamane Oumarou, a Nigerien defence official.

Valued between 15 and 20 million euros per unit, the Aksungur drone represents a significant technological upgrade for Niger’s military.

According to reports from local sources, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) boasts a cruising speed between 180 and 250 kilometres per hour, a payload capacity of 750 kilogrammes, including missiles and other weaponry,  and a flight endurance of up to 40 hours. It is equipped with six hardpoints and offers a range of 6,500 kilometres.

The Aksungur’s capabilities position it ahead of the widely used Bayraktar TB2, which has a range of 150 kilometres and a flight endurance of 27 hours and even surpasses the Akinci drone in endurance, despite the Akinci’s higher payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms and range of 6,000 kilometres.

This announcement came shortly after the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Forces of the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, convened their first official meeting to advance regional air defence cooperation.

Niger’s investment in these long-range drones is expected to significantly strengthen its surveillance operations and precision strike potential across the Sahel region.

Read More:

About The Author

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

NewsTravel

Burkina Faso and Italy Sign Visa Exemption Agreement for Holders of Official Passports

Burkina Faso and Italy have taken a significant step toward strengthening bilateral...

NewsSecurity

EFF Raises Concerns Over Gun Violence in U.S. Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has voiced deep concern over the escalating...

EducationNews

Nigeria Overhauls Technical Education Curriculum To Include Livestock, Aquaculture, Welding, And Fashion Design

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a reform of technical education,...

Ethiopia Inaugurates Africa’s Largest Hydroelectric Dam
NewsPolitics

Ethiopia Inaugurates Africa’s Largest Hydroelectric Dam

Ethiopia, a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of...