# Nigeria’s DICON partners UNICCON on indigenous C-UAS solution

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2026/01/nigerias-dicon-partners-uniccon-on-indigenous-c-uas-solution/
- Published: 2026-01-27T16:38:26+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) recently reached a major milestone
in its pursuit of domestic military production through a strategic partnership with
the UNICCON Group of companies. On 23 December 2025, the entities conducted a live
technical presentation at the Jaji Shooting Range in Kaduna. This demonstration 
displayed a suite of integrated drone detection and defence systems, validating 
the growing capabilities of the Nigerian defence industrial base. The event marks
a notable transition toward African self-reliance, shifting from a dependence on
imported foreign hardware to the active development of indigenous tactical systems.

Central to the offensive portion of the demonstration was the UNIKAM series of loitering
munitions. These multi-rotor kamikaze Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are designed
for high-speed engagement and reach velocities exceeding 200 km/h. With an operational
range between 8 km and 15 km and a flight endurance of 10 to 20 minutes, the UNIKAM
systems provide a rapid-response capability for tactical units. Each unit can carry
a payload of 2.5 kg, which is sufficient for neutralising light armoured vehicles
or fortified positions. Operators can control these munitions autonomously, semi-
autonomously, or manually using First Person View (FPV) goggles to ensure precision
during the terminal phase of an attack.

Complementing these offensive assets, the partnership showcased a stationary Drone
Jammer System (DJS) to address the rising threat of hostile small-unmanned systems.
This [counter-UAS (C-UAS) solution](https://www.military.africa/2023/12/anti-drone-technologies-in-africa-all-you-need-to-know/)
provides a comprehensive electronic umbrella by detecting, tracking, and identifying
over 40 UAVs simultaneously at ranges of up to 8 km. The system monitors a broad
spectrum of communication bands, ranging from 30 MHz to 6 GHz. Once a threat is 
identified, the DJS can neutralise it within a 3 km radius through precise jamming
of Command-and-Control (C2), telemetry, and navigation links.

The DJS technical capabilities extend beyond simple noise jamming. It utilises spoofing
techniques to provide drones with incorrect coordinates, effectively misdirecting
them away from sensitive areas. To maintain continuous security, the system supports
24/7 unattended operation and incorporates geofencing. A critical operational feature
is the whitelist and blacklist functionality, which allows friendly drones to operate
within the jamming zone while the system selectively disrupts hostile frequencies.
This capability is essential for modern combined-arms operations where domestic 
forces utilise their own aerial surveillance alongside counter-drone measures.

The 23 December trials also included a live detonation of a locally produced high-
energy composite munition. This explosive was specifically engineered for increased
pressure build-up and energy confinement within the warhead. While the system can
support warhead masses ranging from 2.22 kg to 200 kg, the test focused on a 2.2
kg variant. The detonation produced a blast radius of approximately 200 meters and
a thermal output exceeding 250°C. For safety and tactical flexibility, engineers
utilised a secure radio-frequency (RF) based wireless remote detonation system to
trigger the charge from a standoff distance of 1.5 km.

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Professor Chuks Ekwueme, Chairman of the UNICCON Group, emphasised that the joint
venture with DICON was established to ensure that Nigeria stays ahead of evolving
asymmetric threats. He noted that as enemies improve their use of drone technology,
the focus must remain on advanced electronic warfare solutions. UNICCON operates
across several tech-heavy sectors, including AI and robotics, with subsidiaries 
like BabaSky focusing specifically on UAV manufacturing and training. This organisational
structure supports the goals of the DICON Act 2023, which was signed into law by
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to foster a robust Military-Industrial Complex (MIC)
in Nigeria.

The Director-General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Alaya, has emphasised that
the corporation is actively interfacing with both local and foreign industry partners
to achieve self-sufficiency. This collaborative ecosystem includes technology firms
like LZ Tech, which specialises in anti-drone solutions and airspace security for
critical infrastructure. Dilove Idima, the Africa manager for LZ Tech, recently 
briefed the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), on 
the company’s progress in UAV detection and identification. This high-level engagement
reflects a shared commitment between the Ministry of Defence and private tech groups
to secure low-altitude airspace against emerging threats.

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Beyond the kamikaze variants, the UNICCON and BabaSky partnership is currently developing
long-endurance fixed-wing drones to expand Nigeria’s reconnaissance and strike reach.
These systems represent a forward-looking approach to national security that prioritises
local innovation over procurement cycles dominated by foreign vendors. By integrating
AI-powered detection with locally manufactured munitions, Nigeria is building a 
resilient defence architecture capable of addressing the complexities of modern 
warfare. This successful validation at Jaji serves as a technical foundation for
further range-table developments and operational deployments across the continent.

In August 2025, the Nigerian Air Force launched a dedicated training programme for
its personnel on the 612A Anti-UAV Radar System, a move aimed at countering the 
rising threat of hostile drones in the country’s security operations. The initiative
began with an inauguration ceremony on 26 July 2025 at the Headquarters of the Air
Component for Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, Borno State.

This development responds to a pattern of [drone-related incidents](https://www.military.africa/2024/12/jihadists-in-nigeria-launches-drone-assault/)
that have tested Nigerian forces. In December 2024, Boko Haram militants struck 
two bases in the North-East using [swarms of drones](https://www.military.africa/2023/06/drone-swarm-technology-an-overview/)
rigged to explode on contact, wounding five soldiers. The first assault targeted
a forward operating base in Wajiroko, Borno State, on 24 December, followed by another
in Yobe State, where four armed drones dropped homemade grenades. Similar events
occurred in Damaturu, Yobe State, and Abadam near Lake Chad, though troops managed
to fend them off. These attacks signal a shift in insurgent methods, with groups
like the Islamic State West Africa Province—a Boko Haram offshoot since 2014—[employing drones](https://www.military.africa/2025/02/the-rise-of-drone-warfare-insurgents-and-terrorists-in-africa/)
not just for strikes but also for scouting, monitoring, and spreading messages.

The spread of drones across Africa stems from their falling costs and easy availability,
coupled with weak rules in many nations that fail to curb misuse. Vast landscapes,
from deserts to dense forests, complicate efforts to spot and stop them, giving 
non-state groups an edge. Governments and security bodies have ramped up investments
in [countermeasures, including radars for detection and jammers or interceptors](https://www.military.africa/2023/12/anti-drone-technologies-in-africa-all-you-need-to-know/)
to bring them down. Yet, numerous African armed forces struggle to deploy sufficient
anti-drone tools, leaving gaps that expose troops to new risks.

The Nigerian army also fields the [EDM4S SkyWiper from Lithuania’s NT Service](https://www.military.africa/2025/03/nigerian-army-fields-lithuanian-c-uav-against-insurgents-drones/),
a portable electronic warfare unit unveiled in 2019 that jams drone signals for 
telemetry, control, and navigation, paired with the Wingman detector for comprehensive
coverage against small to medium UAVs. Additionally, [Thales Ground Observer 12 ](https://www.military.africa/2025/08/nigerian-army-integrates-additional-advanced-ground-surveillance-radars-into-its-operations/)
radars, delivered in 2019, provide Ku-band pulse-Doppler surveillance for battlefield,
border, and site monitoring, suitable for a range of military and civilian uses.

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