# Nigeria acquiring Bayraktar TB2 drone and not Akinci

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2022/09/nigeria-acquiring-bayraktar-tb2-drone-and-not-akinci/
- Published: 2022-09-26T01:16:22+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

A few months ago, a high-ranking civilian official confirmed that Nigeria was [acquiring armed military drones from Turkey](https://www.military.africa/2022/04/bayraktar-tb2-or-akinci-turkey-train-nigerias-drone-pilots-ahead-of-delivery/)
and that personnel from the West African country were in Turkey for drone training.

Since then, it was believed that Nigeria had opted to purchase either the [all-new Akinci heavy-weight strike drone](https://www.military.africa/2022/04/bayraktar-tb2-or-akinci-turkey-train-nigerias-drone-pilots-ahead-of-delivery/)
or the combat-proven [Bayraktar TB2 drone](https://www.military.africa/?s=bayraktar).
In this context, Bayraktar TB2 drones with the Nigerian flag were seen in images
shared by Baykar. Another image shows Nigerian military personnel receiving training
on the operation of the Bayraktar TB2 drones.

The Nigerian army has for several months been looking to buy Turkish Bayraktar TB2
drones but sanctions issued by the United States and Canada on a key part of the
equipment were delaying the process. Nigeria ordered 6 Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs along
with 2 Ground Control Stations.

![](https://www.military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/nigeria-bayraktar-tb2-
drone.jpg)

![](https://www.military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/nigeria-bayraktar-tb2-
drone-uav.jpg)

> [Bayraktar TB2 or Akinci? Turkey train Nigeria’s drone pilots ahead of delivery](https://www.military.africa/2022/04/bayraktar-tb2-or-akinci-turkey-train-nigerias-drone-pilots-ahead-of-delivery/)

Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, earlier this year explained
that Nigerian UAV pilots are currently undergoing training in Turkey. So far, the
pilots have completed their training, and the Bayraktar TB2s will be supplied to
Nigeria.

In January, Nigeria and Turkey [entered talks on defence collaboration](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/nigeria-turkey-discuss-arms-acquisition-and-equipment-manufacturing)
in counter-terrorism support as well as the acquisition of various military hardware
that include attack helicopters, armed drones, and other infantry systems. A team
from the Turkish Defense Establishment would meet its Nigerian counterpart in Abuja
for the 5th Turkey-Nigeria Defence Industry Consultation Meeting. At the meeting,
leading[ Turkish defence companies pitched their hardware to the Nigerian military](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/turkish-defence-firms-pitch-hardware-to-nigeria)
leadership in a bid to make some sales including TUSAŞ, OTOKAR, Roketsan, BMC, Tais
Shipyard, Katmerciler, ASELSAN, TAI and 10 others. Nigeria and Turkey [first began talks aimed at improving their defence ties on August 31, 2021](https://www.military.africa/2021/08/nigeria-and-turkey-strengthens-relations-in-counter-terrorism),
during the visit of the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Hidaye Bayraktar
paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, at the Army
Headquarters, Abuja.

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The [Bayraktar TB2](https://www.military.africa/2019/09/drone-war-in-libya-wing-long-ii-versus-bayraktar-tb2)
is a combat-proven UAV system which has been successfully deployed to several conflicts
around the world. Most especially, Libya, Syria, Ukraine. Bayraktar TB2 armed drones
have gained large business recently after their successes in combat over three active
war zones in 2020.

Turkey has been enjoying high demand for collaboration with African countries. In
Africa, the TB2 Bayraktar model is in high demand after it was used during the conflicts
in Libya and Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the past few years.
The type has been sold to several African militaries including [Morocco](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/morocco-orders-13-bayraktar-tb2-uav),
[Nigér](https://www.military.africa/2021/11/turkey-announce-bayraktar-tb2-drone-order-from-niger),
and [Ethiopia](https://www.military.africa/2021/12/u-s-egypt-concerned-over-turkeys-bayraktar-tb2-sales-to-ethiopia).