Turkish defense technology firm Havelsan and Egypt’s state-owned Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly produce autonomous VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAVs—including the BAHA, BULUT, and BOZBEY models—in Egypt, aiming to fulfill regional demand and spur exports across Africa and the Arab world.
This collaboration builds on a March 2025 agreement for joint unmanned ground vehicle production and represents a deepening of Türkiye–Egypt industrial ties. Production will be carried out at Egypt’s Kader Factory, combining AOI’s manufacturing infrastructure with Havelsan’s technological expertise.
The BAHA UAV, already in Turkish service since early 2025, weighs 28 kg (with a 2 kg payload), offers 2 hours’ endurance, and has a 50 km communication range—optimized for sub-cloud reconnaissance in areas lacking runway infrastructure. Its design makes it especially suitable for Egypt’s varied terrain and border surveillance needs.
Havelsan’s CEO, Mehmet Akif Nacar, described the partnership as a means to “enhance local production capacity and make a strong entry into the African market,” while AOI chairman Major General Mokhtar Abdel Latif called it “a major step toward technological independence and sustainable exports”.
This initiative also aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes sustainable development through technological localization and industrial diversification. With defense cooperation between Ankara and Cairo warming in recent years, this UAV pact could mark a significant leap in regional defense-industrial integration.
