# Mozambique seeks combat drones for Cabo Delgado counter-insurgency

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/09/mozambique-seeks-combat-drones-for-cabo-delgado-counter-insurgency/
- Published: 2023-09-23T09:51:50+01:00
- Author: Kazim Abdul

The Mozambican military is seeking attack drones to support its troops battling 
insurgents in Cabo Delgado province. The military has rejected Turkish UAVs due 
to supply delays and is now looking at Chinese suppliers. France’s I-SEE Group is
also considering selling two of its IC-D UAVs to Mozambique.

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The Mozambican military has been fighting an insurgency in Cabo Delgado since 2017.
The insurgency has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused a humanitarian
crisis. In 2022, the Mozambican government launched a counteroffensive against the
insurgents, with the [support of Rwandan troops](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/cabo-delgado-rwanda-deploys-1000-troops-to-mozambique/)
and South African mercenaries. The counteroffensive has made some progress, but 
the insurgents remain active.

The Mozambican military is seeking attack drones to help it defeat the insurgency.
Attack drones can be used to strike insurgent positions and to provide surveillance
and reconnaissance. The acquisition of attack drones by Mozambique would be a significant
development in the country’s fight against the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Attack
drones can provide the Mozambican military with a significant advantage in terms
of firepower. They can also be used to carry out precision strikes, which can help
to minimize civilian casualties.

The Mozambican military is reportedly interested in Chinese-made attack drones, 
such as the Wing Loong II and CH-4 Rainbow armed drones. Both types are medium-altitude,
long-endurance (MALE) UAVs that can be armed with missiles and bombs.

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France’s I-SEE Group is also reportedly interested in selling attack drones to Mozambique.
I-SEE Group is a French company that develops and manufactures UAVs. I-SEE Group,
owned by Jean-Michel Baure and former air force pilot Rémi Artusio, is considering
trying to sell two of its IC-D UAVs.

The IC-D UAV offers scalability and multi-sensors capability. it can be quickly 
reconfigured according to the missions. The acquisition of attack drones by the 
Mozambican military would be a significant development. Attack drones could give
the Mozambican military a significant advantage over the insurgents.

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Mozambique forces do not operate unmanned aerial assets, however , in June it was
revealed that the country had [acquired the Mwari aircraft](https://www.military.africa/2023/06/dr-congo-mozambique-acquires-upgraded-mwari/)
designed by Paramount. The Mwari is a twin-turboprop aircraft that is used for a
variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and light attack. Mozambique’s
military is the [launch customer](https://www.military.africa/2021/11/mwari-in-cabo-delgado/)
for Paramount’s Mwari.

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