Nigeria has signed a substantial defence procurement agreement with Turkish manufacturer DASAL Aviation Technologies for the acquisition of loitering munitions and associated support systems, aiming to enhance its counter-insurgency capabilities. This agreement was formalized during the SAHA 2026 international defence exhibition held in Istanbul and establishes a long-term logistics and assembly framework within West Africa.
The contract was officially signed between DASAL and Nigerian defence company NIGUS International Investment Limited at the Istanbul Expo Centre. Under the terms of this agreement, DASAL will supply 100,000 DASAL MIKON kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along with 200 DASAL FALCON R556 rifle multi-rotor drones. Additionally, the package includes 100 DASAL PUHU heavy-lift cargo UAV systems designed for tactical logistics operations. Beyond hardware procurement, the agreement also establishes a local assembly and a framework for conditional technology cooperation. NIGUS will serve as the strategic platform coordinator to establish system integration and maintenance facilities within Nigeria. The development of this localized infrastructure aims to serve both the Nigerian armed forces and the broader Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
DASAL will establish a comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network to ensure the immediate operational readiness of the systems. Mr. Kutay Çağıl Büyüköztürk, the general manager of DASAL Aviation Technologies, remarked during the signing ceremony that this deal strengthens the company’s position in areas of asymmetric warfare and covert operations.
HIGH-VOLUME ASYMMETRIC CAPABILITIES
The inclusion of 100,000 loitering munitions underscores a strategic shift towards high-volume, low-cost precision strike capabilities within the Nigerian military. Kamikaze drones serve as an intermediate platform bridging traditional UAVs and precision-guided missiles. Unlike conventional missiles, these platforms can loiter in an airspace for extended durations, conducting target searches before executing strikes. Loitering munitions offer significant economic advantages in prolonged counter-insurgency engagements. This drone’s cost-effectiveness enables the military to perform precision strikes against high-value insurgent targets or soft-skinned vehicles without exhausting costly missile inventories.
The supporting components of this procurement address key tactical gaps in close combat and frontline logistics. The FALCON R556 is a rotary-wing platform equipped with a 2-axis stabilized 5.56 mm assault rifle and an advanced recoil suppression system. The drone maintains a maximum flight duration of 25 minutes, a control range of 6 kilometers, and attains cruising speeds of 55 km/h while carrying a 15-kilogram payload.
The DASAL PUHU cargo UAV series will provide logistical support, including the C75 and C100 heavy-class electric rotary-wing systems. These platforms are designed to automate tactical resupply in remote terrains, thereby reducing the reliance on vulnerable road convoys. This fleet enables the Nigerian military to combine persistent surveillance with immediate, low-cost kinetic responses.
This procurement reflects a strategic enhancement of bilateral defence relations between Nigeria and Turkey. In January 2026, the Nigerian President, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signed nine strategic agreements during an official state visit to Turkey, establishing a formal legal framework for military cooperation. Subsequently, Nigerian Defence Minister Christopher Musa announced that Turkey would provide training for 200 Nigerian special forces personnel to operate the new equipment.
Over recent years, Nigeria has systematically integrated Turkish aerospace platforms into its operational doctrine. This includes the acquisition of BAHA and TOGAN tactical UAVs in August 2023, and the procurement of 43 Bayraktar TB2 medium-altitude, long-endurance drones under Project Guardian in December 2024. Additionally, some Nigerian states, such as Zamfara, have pursued independent initiatives, with plans announced in October 2021 to acquire Turkish armed drones for counter-banditry operations.
The development of domestic MRO and assembly facilities addresses a critical vulnerability in African defence procurement dependence on foreign technical support. By establishing a local supply chain hub, the Nigerian military aims to mitigate shipping delays that frequently hinder operational readiness. The deployment of mass-produced loitering munitions is expected to significantly influence frontline operations in Nigeria’s North-West and North-East regions, providing immediate organic air support to field commanders.
Initial deliveries and site selections for facilities are anticipated to commence later this year, marking the beginning of industrial integration under the joint NIGUS-DASAL framework.