# HAVELSAN Push African Joint Defence Production, Tech Transfer at EDEX 2025

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/12/havelsan-push-african-joint-defence-production-tech-transfer-at-edex-2025/
- Published: 2025-12-04T20:45:16+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

The fourth edition of the [Egypt Defence Expo, known as EDEX 2025](https://www.havelsan.com/en?utm_source=interview&utm_medium=militaryafrica&utm_term=edex),
opened its doors on December 1 in Cairo under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah
El-Sisi. This biennial event draws over 450 exhibitors from more than 40 countries
and expects around 40,000 visitors, including military delegations and industry 
leaders.

Organisers from the Egyptian Armament Authority highlight the expo’s role in fostering
partnerships across Africa and the Middle East, with a clear emphasis on technology
transfer and domestic manufacturing. Turkish firm HAVELSAN, a key participant among
80 Turkish companies, uses the platform to showcase its systems while pushing joint
production initiatives tailored to regional needs.  

HAVELSAN, established in 1982, is one of Türkiye’s leading defense and advanced 
technology companies. As a subsidiary of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV),
HAVELSAN develops innovative, national, and smart solutions tailored to the needs
of defence, public, and private sectors.The company develops command-and-control
systems, autonomous platforms, simulation tools, and cybersecurity measures.

At EDEX 2025, [HAVELSAN presents innovations](https://www.havelsan.com/en?utm_source=interview&utm_medium=militaryafrica&utm_term=edex)
in artificial intelligence-driven defence systems, command-and-control architectures,
unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, simulation environments, and
networked battlefield setups. These offerings support digital transformation efforts
and enhance autonomous operations for partner forces.  

Vice President Şevket Ünal, responsible for international business development at
HAVELSAN, addressed the expo’s delegations on the company’s priorities in Africa.
Ünal stressed that effective partnerships require more than equipment sales; they
demand models that build local expertise from the outset. “Demonstrating long-term
and effective presence on the continent is not possible by simply delivering systems,”
Ünal told Military Africa in a November 2025 interview.

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“For this reason, HAVELSAN’s approach is to consider from the very beginning models
that will develop countries’ own labour skills and infrastructure capacity. We offer
solutions tailored to needs at every point, from establishing maintenance plans 
to joint training programs.” This strategy matches the sustainability and operational
independence goals often voiced by African defence ministries.  

HAVELSAN’s booth at EDEX, located in Hall H3, features integrated land, air, and
naval defence technologies, autonomous unmanned platforms, simulation and training
Technologies and ICT technologies. Attendees can view demonstrations of unmanned
systems like the [BARKAN ](https://www.military.africa/2025/05/havelsan-showcase-baha-and-bozbey-drones-at-4th-african-air-forces-forum/)
unmanned ground vehicle and [BAHA ](https://www.military.africa/2025/04/turkey-inducts-havelsan-baha-sub-cloud-unmanned-aerial-vehicle/)
vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle. These platforms integrate
with broader command systems for real-time data sharing, a critical feature for 
multi-domain operations.

The company’s [ADVENT ](https://www.military.africa/2025/08/havelsan-integrates-national-artificial-intelligence-into-advent-combat-management-system/)
combat management system, now in service across seven nations, including recent 
African adopters, coordinates sensors and effectors on naval vessels to improve 
situational awareness. Engineers designed ADVENT with modular software that allows
upgrades without full hardware overhauls, balancing cost and adaptability for budget-
constrained fleets.  

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The expo provides HAVELSAN a stage to deepen ties with Egypt, where recent agreements
form the backbone of its African expansion. In March 2025, HAVELSAN[ signed a pact](https://www.military.africa/2025/03/havelsan-partners-with-egypts-kader-on-unmanned-ground-vehicle-project/)
with Egypt’s Kader Factory for Developed Industries, part of the Arab Organisation
for Industrialisation (AOI). This deal enables local assembly of unmanned ground
vehicles under Turkish licensing and technical oversight. Production occurs at Kader’s
Cairo facilities, drawing on HAVELSAN’s designs like BARKAN, a tracked robot weighing
450 kilograms with a 10-hour battery life for reconnaissance and logistics in rough
terrain. BARKAN’s modular payload bay accepts cameras, jammers, or light arms, offering
flexibility but requiring careful integration to avoid weight penalties that cut
endurance.

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Ünal described the arrangement as a blend of technology handover and knowledge exchange,
noting it strengthens both nations’ capabilities. Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih
Mutlu Şencalled Kader a benchmark facility for quality, predicting sustained collaboration.
Verified as active on December 4, 2025, this project advances prototype development
ahead of full-scale output.   Building on that momentum, HAVELSAN and AOI formalised
a second agreement on August 26, 2025, for [joint unmanned aerial vehicle production.](https://www.military.africa/2025/08/turkish-havelsan-and-egypts-aoi-embark-on-joint-uav-production/)

The pact targets vertical take-off and landing models, including HAVELSAN’s [BAHA ](https://www.military.africa/2025/02/the-ultimate-guide-to-havelsan-baha-autonomous-uav-with-vtol-capability/)
and [BULUT](https://www.military.africa/2025/02/havelsan-unveils-all-new-bulut-reconnaissance-and-surveillance-uav/),
both of which were inducted into Turkish service earlier in 2025. [BAHA](https://www.military.africa/2025/02/the-ultimate-guide-to-havelsan-baha-autonomous-uav-with-vtol-capability/),
a 12-kilogram fixed-wing drone with a 6-hour flight time on gasoline power, excels
in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance over 150 kilometres. Its electric
variant trades range for quieter operations in urban settings, a trade-off that 
suits African border patrols but demands robust ground stations for control handover.
BULUT adds swarm capabilities for coordinated strikes, processing data via onboard
AI to autonomously prioritise threats. Assembly happens at Kader, with Turkish engineers
guiding workflows to localise 70 per cent of components within two years. AOI Chairman
Major General Mokhtar Abdellatif emphasised the deal’s fit with Egypt’s Vision 2030
for self-reliance, aiming to supply regional exports. HAVELSAN CEO Mehmet Akif Nacar
echoed this, stating the partnership boosts local capacity while opening African
markets to affordable, proven tech. The agreement remains on track as of December
4, 2025, with initial units slated for testing in early 2026.   These pacts yield
tangible results at EDEX 2025. Egypt unveiled the Hamza-1, a gasoline-powered BAHA
derivative with a 6-hour endurance and electro-optical sensors for real-time video
feeds. The drone identifies enemy movements and relays imagery, supporting missions
in expansive African theatres where manned flights risk pilot exposure. Complementing
it, the Scorpion unmanned ground vehicle debuted here, a fully electric platform
distinct from BARKAN but co-developed with HAVELSAN.

At 500 kilograms, Scorpion mounts a 12.7-millimetre remote turret, infrared cameras,
and a laser rangefinder for patrols or fire support in high-threat zones. Its remote
launch system minimises crew risk, though operators must manage battery limits during
extended ops, often resolved by modular solar chargers. Both systems drew crowds,
signalling Egypt’s quick prototyping under Turkish guidance.   Beyond hardware, 
HAVELSAN integrates AI across its lineup to address operational bottlenecks.

At IDEF 2025 in July, Ünal [outlined ](https://www.military.africa/2025/07/idef-2025-havelsans-multi-domain-ai-strategy/)
how AI is embedded in multi-domain architectures for predictive analytics, such 
as forecasting UGV routes based on terrain data. This reduces human error in command
loops but introduces cybersecurity vulnerabilities, mitigated by HAVELSAN’s layered
encryption protocols. For Africa, where vast borders strain resources, these tools
enable unmanned fleets to cover more ground with fewer personnel. Ünal noted in 
his _**Military Africa**_ discussion that early [ADVENT ](https://www.military.africa/2024/10/havelsan-advent-the-admiral-of-naval-defense/)
installs in African navies refined integrations for diverse sensor feeds, ensuring
platforms “speak a common data language.” Such adaptations prioritise interoperability
over bespoke designs, easing maintenance in remote bases.  

HAVELSAN’s [broader African footprint](https://www.military.africa/2023/12/havelsan-a-turkish-defense-giant-expanding-in-africa/)
includes exports to nations like Nigeria, where [BAHA drones](https://www.military.africa/2023/08/nigeria-acquires-baha-and-togan-uavs-from-turkey/)
and ADVENT systems enhance maritime patrols against piracy. The company pursues 
similar deals in Rwanda, Kenya, and Senegal, focusing on simulation trainers that
cut live-fire costs by 40 per cent through virtual scenarios. Ünalexplained that
short-term readiness comes from rapid setups, but self-sufficiency demands ongoing
training: “While HAVELSAN establishes systems that enable countries to achieve rapid
operational readiness in the short term, our long-term focus is on building a structure
that allows them to become self-sufficient.” This dual-track model aligns with continental
priorities for cost-effective security, as unmanned assets lower personnel demands
in expansive geographies.   EDEX 2025 underscores HAVELSAN’s pivot toward collaborative
ecosystems. By embedding technology transfer in every deal, the firm not only sells
solutions butcultivates partners capable of evolving them. As Ünal put it, “Different
dynamics can be on the table for cooperation models as well,” hinting at expansions
into cyber defenceor joint R&D. With prototypes like Hamza-1 rolling out, HAVELSAN
positions Africa as a testing ground for resilient, homegrown defence tech. The 
expo’s deals, including AOI’s separate pacts with global players, reinforce Cairo’s
hub status, where Turkish ingenuity meets Egyptian scale to serve the continent.

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