In a significant development for the defence industry, Turkish defence company ASISGUARD has recently been awarded a lucrative contract worth $36.5 million. The contract entails the provision of an integrated border security solution for Nigeria.
ASISGUARD will deploy its cutting-edge Songar drones and oversee the system installation and integration, and the procurement of a comprehensive border and internal security system.
This milestone agreement underscores the company’s expertise in the field of defence technology and highlights Nigeria’s commitment to bolstering its border security capabilities. In this article, we will delve into the details of this contract and explore how ASISGUARD’s solution aims to enhance surveillance and secure Nigeria’s borders.
The agreement was officially signed by ASISGUARD’s General Manager Barış Düzgün cementing the partnership between the company and the African country.
The project includes products for detection, command and control and precautionary/intervention purposes.
At the core of the contract lies ASISGUARD’s highly advanced Songar drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have garnered international recognition for their exceptional performance and reliability in various defence applications. Equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, Songar drones are designed to autonomously detect, track, and neutralize targets with utmost precision and efficiency.
In addition to being the main integrator, ASISGUARD will perform system installation and integration activities with armed drones, surveillance and detection camera systems in the project.
Surveillance: Unprecedented Situational Awareness
One of the primary objectives of ASISGUARD’s integrated border security solution is to enhance surveillance capabilities along Nigeria’s borders. With the deployment of Songar drones, Nigerian authorities will have access to real-time and comprehensive situational awareness. These drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and advanced imaging technologies, enabling them to capture and analyze vast amounts of visual data.
The surveillance capabilities of Songar drones will prove invaluable in monitoring remote and challenging terrains, identifying potential threats, and providing timely information to security personnel on the ground. This enhanced surveillance system will act as a force multiplier, allowing authorities to respond swiftly to any suspicious activities and potential breaches along the border.
Mobile Drone Launch Platform: Rapid Response and Flexibility
ASISGUARD’s integrated solution goes beyond providing surveillance capabilities. The contract also includes the provision of a mobile drone launch platform, further augmenting Nigeria’s border security capabilities. This platform will enable the rapid deployment of Songar drones to any desired location, allowing for increased flexibility in responding to evolving security challenges.
The mobile drone launch platform will be equipped with state-of-the-art communication systems, ensuring seamless connectivity between the drones and the command centre. This connectivity will facilitate real-time data transmission, enabling security personnel to make informed decisions promptly. The ability to deploy drones rapidly and effectively will significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to counter illicit activities, such as smuggling, human trafficking, and border intrusions.
System Installation and Integration: Seamless Operation
Apart from cutting-edge technology, ASISGUARD will be responsible for the complete installation and integration of the border security system. This comprehensive approach ensures the smooth operation of the solution, as all components will be seamlessly integrated into the existing security infrastructure.
ASISGUARD’s expertise in system integration will enable Nigerian authorities to harness the full potential of their new border security system. The company’s technical teams will collaborate closely with local authorities to ensure that the system is customized to meet Nigeria’s specific requirements and challenges. Training programs will also be conducted to familiarize Nigerian personnel with the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures of the integrated solution.
Other Turkish defence industry companies, Havelsan, STM and Nurol Makina, are also involved in the project, which is an example of overseas joint work and marketing activities for the sector. The unity among the companies was one of the most important factors in the acquisition of this project.
Within the scope of the project, ASISGUARD will undertake responsibilities such as long-range multisensor thermal cameras, towers and equipment to be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, armed drone systems, establishment and equipping of command and control centres, as well as energy and data infrastructure for the project.
Fixed-wing, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), sub-cloud autonomous unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft developed by Havelsan and the command and control software to be developed by the company in order to manage and command the system, will be used in the project.
The project will also include 4×4 tactical wheeled armoured vehicles manufactured by Nurol Makina and unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance air combat vehicles developed by STM.
Previous collaboration
This is not the first time that Turkish ASISGUARD is awarded a contract in Nigeria. In October last year, the Turkish company supplied at least 10 Songar armed drones to Nigerian counter-terror forces.
SONGAR Armed Drone System can perform tasks such as target area detection, threat neutralization, post-operative damage detection and real-time image transmission.
The drone system can be integrated with automatic machine guns and grenade launchers, and equipped with a proprietary Electronic Sight and Ballistic Calculation Module. Some Songar drones are being used by the Nigerian Police. The delivery of SONGAR systems to the Nigerian Police Force and Army was completed on September 15, 2022.
In January 2022, Nigeria and Turkey entered talks on defence collaboration in counter-terrorism support as well as the acquisition of various military hardware which may include attack helicopters, armed drones, and other infantry systems.
At the meeting, leading Turkish defence companies pitched their hardware to the Nigerian military leadership in a bid to make some sales including TUSAŞ, OTOKAR, Roketsan, BMC, Tais Shipyard, Katmerciler, ASELSAN, TAI and 10 others.
Asisguard Songar armed drone appears to have equal capabilities with Nigeria’s indigenous Hexacopter armed drone built four years ago by the Aur Force Institute of Technology.
