Military Africa

06/09/2026

Across Africa, a growing number of governments are buying serious military drones for the first time, or buying a lot more of them very quickly, and the reasons why say as much about the world’s competing powers as they do about the countries doing the buying.

Somalia is the most dramatic example, but it is far from the only one. New procurement figures show at least eight African countries or forces have sharply ramped up drone purchases over the past three years compared with the three years before that. Some of the jumps are enormous on paper, Chad’s drone inventory has grown more than four and a half times over, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighting Sudan’s civil war have more than quadrupled theirs.

Others look even more dramatic at first glance: Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania, Somalia, and Libya’s Tripoli-based government all went from having essentially no recorded drone purchases in the earlier period to having a handful now, technically an infinite percentage increase, though what that really means is simpler: these are countries starting a drone programme from scratch, not accelerating an existing one.

06/09/2026

Aselsan

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

On August 23, 2026, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-16 fighters flew mock air-to-air combat against Egyptian Air Force (EAF) Rafale and MiG-29M2 jets, opening the flying phase of the “Eagles of Civilization 2026” exercise in Egypt.

The drill is the first time a Chinese heavyweight fighter has deployed to Africa. Six or more J-16s, escorted by a YY-20A tanker, flew roughly 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) from western China to Egypt in about 9 hours, refueling in the air along the route. The formation landed at an Egyptian air base on August 21, according to the PLAAF, which said ground crews began unloading equipment and coordinating with Egyptian counterparts immediately after arrival.

Eagles of Civilization 2026 is the second joint exercise between the two air forces, following an initial round in April 2025 that paired lighter Chengdu J-10C fighters with Egyptian jets. This year’s package is heavier: alongside the J-16s, China sent KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, Y-20 transport planes, a Y-9 electronic warfare variant, and Z-20 utility helicopters. Egypt has fielded Rafale and upgraded MiG-29M2 fighters. The PLAAF said the exercise, which began August 22, will run into early September and includes one-on-one air combat training along with combat search and rescue and broader force coordination work.

02/09/2026

MKE Completes Aerial Qualification for Turkish MMT-76 Next-Gen Helicopter Gun

📌 MKE continues to develop critical defence systems in line with the of the Turkish Armed Forces in the field. Under a joint project carried out with the Secretariat of Defence Industries of Türkiye, MMT-76 which successfully completed its ground qualification trials in 2025, has now passed its aerial qualification tests for helicopter use with a 100% success rate.

📌 Having already earned readiness for serial production by passing 40 different NATO standard tests, MMT-76 delivered outstanding performance in helicopter vibration simulation, reliability and durability, low- and high-temperature, and air-to ground firing trials, qualifying it for use as a door gun on general-purpose helicopters.

📌 Thanks to its high reliability, durability and performance under demanding environmental conditions, MMT-76 will further strengthen Turkish, allied and friendly armed forces on the field. Weighing 8 KGs with an effective range of 1,000 metres, MMT-76 delivers an uninterrupted rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute, making a significant contribution to the operational capability of the military personnel.

Distinguished by its high firepower and durability, MMT-76 also stands out for being lighter than its NATO-standard counterparts. Featuring a gas-piston operating system and a rotating bolt locking mechanism, MMT-76 can be used effectively across a wide range of environments and rough climatic conditions. With a six-position adjustable (telescopic) stock and an ergonomic design offering user comfort, the weapon’s am******on is also produced at MKE facilities.

READ MORE: https://www.military.africa/2026/08/mke-completes-aerial-qualification-for-turkish-mmt-76-next-gen-helicopter-gun/

SPONSORED BY MKE

02/09/2026

Nigerian, U.S. military conduct joint drone training

U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted unmanned aircraft system (UAS) training at Operating Location Bauchi in northeastern Nigeria. Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the U.S. Army’s 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through a session at Operating Location Bauchi.

READ MORE IN THE COMMENT

02/09/2026

Exercise Southern Accord 2026: Botswana and the US deepen defence ties

Botswana and the United States wrapped up Exercise Southern Accord 2026 on 15 August 2026, closing 6 days of joint military planning that, for the first time, brought the US Space Force into the drills alongside the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG). The exercise ran from 10 to 15 August 2026 and brought together US and Botswana military personnel to enhance regional security and foster mutual readiness. The closing ceremony took place at Gaborone Technical College.

This year’s iteration shifted the focus from field training to staff work. Several functional areas were stood up during the exercise, including cells for cyber, intelligence, space operations, and the main staff planning group. That marks a departure from earlier editions, which leaned more heavily on hands-on skills. Southern Accord 2024 centered on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping, and aeromedical evacuation.

02/09/2026

Uganda signals continued Military commitment to Somalia

📌 On August 15, 2026, Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka confidently affirmed that Ugandan forces would remain in Somalia through an independent bilateral security pact, even if the multilateral African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) collapsed or wound down, keeping Kampala’s troops in the country under a bilateral security deal with Mogadishu.

📌 Uganda is AUSSOM’s largest troop contributor, with roughly 4,500 soldiers under the African Union (AU) mission’s approved deployment list. In addition, Kampala has a separate bilateral contingent in Somalia; Ugandan military sources put that figure at around 2,000, though other reporting from Kampala this year has cited numbers as high as 4,000 to 6,000. The bilateral troops operate under a security agreement that Uganda and Somalia signed at the end of 2024, covering deployments that began in 2025.

READ MORE

02/09/2026

HAVELSAN’s FLEETSTAR Completes Factory Acceptance Tests for MİLGEM Ships 10 and 11

HAVELSAN’s FLEETSTAR Platform Data Distribution System, developed for the 10th and 11th ships of the MİLGEM programme, has successfully completed its Factory Acceptance Tests.

HAVELSAN has completed the Factory Acceptance Tests of its FLEETSTAR Platform Data Distribution System for the 10th and 11th ships being built under the MİLGEM programme.

Designed as the digital backbone of modern naval platforms, FLEETSTAR manages data exchange between sensors, weapon systems and mission systems, supporting the effective operation of the platform. For submarine platforms, HAVELSAN offers the SUBSTAR Submarine Data Distribution System, a configuration specifically developed for submarine requirements.

READ MORE: https://www.military.africa/2026/08/havelsans-fleetstar-completes-factory-acceptance-tests-for-milgem-ships-10-and-11/

PRESENTED BY

02/09/2026

ASELSAN Highlights Airborne and Counter-UAV Capabilities at AAD 2026

ASELSAN is bringing its expanding portfolio of advanced airpower and counter-UAV capabilities to AAD in South Africa, showcasing solutions spanning airborne sensing and targeting, precision strike and layered protection against unmanned threats.

Rather than focusing on individual platforms, the display illustrates how ASELSAN is building an increasingly connected portfolio spanning reconnaissance and targeting, precision engagement and protection against unmanned aerial threats. These capabilities extend from systems carried by combat aircraft and UAVs to integrated solutions designed to protect deployed forces and critical assets.

📌 ASELFLIR 500 for Long-Range Reconnaissance and Targeting
➡️ TOLUN Family Expands Precision-Strike Options
✅️ TOLUN P
✅️ TOLUN L
✅️ TOLUN F

📌 A Layered Response to the Drone Threats
✅️ İHTAR
✅️ GÖKBERK
✅️ EJDERHA
✅️KORKUT 25

ASELSAN’s presence at AAD reflects the broader evolution of its airpower portfolio, with technologies designed to address increasingly diverse and complex operational requirements.

Sponsored by
READ MORE: https://www.military.africa/2026/08/aselsan-highlights-airborne-and-counter-uav-capabilities-at-aad-2026/