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Is Africa becoming a new arena for adaptive drone warfare? Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Ukraine has become the world’s unofficial laboratory for the adaptation and use of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in armed conflicts. Like its adversary, Russia, Ukraine is looking for cheaper alternatives to military-grade drones and draws on civilian knowledge to weaponise hobbyist drones. Chinese-made Mavic drones, for example, retailing at under R80 000 (US$4 910), are part of Ukraine’s arsenal. State militaries and armed groups in Africa appear to be increasingly acquiring Ukrainian know-how. Ukraine has long been among the top 10 weapons suppliers globally, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and has been involved in peacekeeping in Angola, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Now Ukraine is fast developing a drone manufacturing and modification industry to supply African clients, ranging from surveillance to longer-range armed drones. Ghana has expressed an interest in acquiring Ukraine’s adapted drones for surveillance along its Sahel borders. In an April Telegram post, President Volodymyr…

Is Africa becoming a new arena for adaptive drone warfare? This article was originally published on ISS Today. The spread of Ukrainian technology and expertise could alter the balance between state and non-state armed groups across Africa. Ukraine has become the world’s unofficial laboratory for the adaptation and use of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in armed conflicts. Like its adversary, Russia, Ukraine is looking for cheaper alternatives to military-grade drones and draws on civilian knowledge to weaponise hobbyist drones. Chinese-made Mavic drones, for example, retailing at under R80 000 (US$4 910), are part of Ukraine’s arsenal. State militaries and armed groups in Africa appear to be increasingly acquiring Ukrainian know-how. Ukraine has long been among the top 10 weapons suppliers globally, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and has been involved in peacekeeping in Angola, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Now, Ukraine is rapidly developing a drone manufacturing and modification industry to supply African clients, ranging from surveillance to long-range armed drones. Ghana has expressed an…

How armed drones are redefining warfare in Africa An in-depth analysis of the technological shift transforming regional conflicts From the highlands of Ethiopia’s Tigray, where federal troops clashed with rebels, to war ravaged streets of Khartoum, and the plains of Somalia where government troops and their allies fight Al-Shabaab insurgency, one sound has become chillingly familiar: the persistent buzz of an armed drone. Once the hallmark of superpowers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) now dominate East Africa’s battlefields. Their rise has not only redefined frontlines but also unleashed devastating consequences for civilians. A weapons analyst that tracks arms flows in global conflicts told The East African that the rapid spread of drones is driven by “foreign suppliers and weak global controls.” Their influx, he warned, has injected unprecedented firepower into wars already defined by ethnic rivalries, insurgencies, and urban combat. “They are cheap, accessible, and capable of immense destruction,” he added. The civilian cost is staggering. A Drone Wars UK report published in March 2025 reveals that at least 943 civilians were killed in 50 drone strikes across Africa betw…

Is Africa becoming a new arena for adaptive drone warfare? Note: Search is limited to the most recent 250 articles. To access earlier articles, click Advanced Search and set an earlier date range.To search for a term containing the '&' symbol, click Advanced Search and use the 'search headings' and/or 'in first paragraph' options. Sponsored by Sponsored by Sponsored by Is Africa becoming a new arena for adaptive drone warfare? Should you have feedback on this article, please complete the fields below.Please indicate if your feedback is in the form of a letter to the editor that you wish to have published. If so, please be aware that we require that you keep your feedback to below 300 words and we will consider its publication online or in Creamer Media’s print publications, at Creamer Media’s discretion.We also welcome factual corrections and tip-offs and will protect the identity of our sources, please indicate if this is your wish in your feedback below. Embed VideoPopup VideoInstagram DownloadBuy Photos 17th June 2026By:ISS, Institute for Security Studies ARTICLE ENQUIRYSAVE THIS ARTICLEEMAIL THIS ARTICLE Font size:-+ The spread of Ukrainian technology and expertise …

Africa: Is Africa Becoming a New Arena for Adaptive Drone Warfare? [ISS] The spread of Ukrainian technology and expertise could alter the balance between state and non-state armed groups across Africa.

Africa's drone wars are growing - but they rarely deliver victory Civilians in Sudan run after a drone crashed in a neighbourhood in the eastern region in July 2024. AFP via Getty Images In the last decade, armed drones have become one of the most visible symbols of modern warfare. Once the preserve of advanced militaries, armed drones are now widely available on the global arms market. Countries such as Turkey, China and Iran are producing lower-cost models and exporting them. In Sudan’s ongoing war, which began in 2023, drones have been used by the two major warring parties to gain ground – but have caused massive civilian casualties in the process. A drone is essentially a remotely piloted aircraft that can observe, track and sometimes strike targets with missiles or bombs. The promise of armed drones is alluring: a lethal, precise and affordable weapon that can surveil and strike enemies without troops being exposed. But can these drones deliver on their promise in African battlespaces? Brendon J. Cannon shares insights from his study of drone use in Sub-Saharan African conflicts . What’s driving up the use of drones in sub-Saharan Africa? Drones offer tactical advantages. The…

Drones Take Flight: Africa's Modern Warfare Shift The Africa International Defence Exhibition provides a world-class platform to address Africa’s evolving security landscape, explore emerging technologies and deliver actionable solutions that strengthen defence capability and cooperation across the continent. Top shot of a military UAV or drone (Bayraktar TB2) armed with missiles and flying over forest area with the ground blurred Drones and other aerial platforms have become a critical component of monitoring and rapid response across Africa’s most contested regions. Across the continent, drones are transforming how wars are fought. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide real-time surveillance, precision targeting, and rapid response capabilities, enabling militaries to monitor remote and challenging environments while reducing risk to personnel. As drones play an increasingly central role in battle strategies across Africa, defence forces are shifting toward more agile, intelligence-led operations. The ability to gather, analyse, and act on data in real time is reshaping decision-making on the ground and in the air. The growing use of armed and surveillance drones is furth…

Africa: Is Africa Becoming a New Arena for Adaptive Drone Warfare ... The spread of Ukrainian technology and expertise could alter the balance between state and non-state armed groups across Africa. Ukraine has become the world's unofficial laboratory for the adaptation and use of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in armed conflicts. Like its adversary, Russia, Ukraine is looking for cheaper alternatives to military-grade drones and draws on civilian knowledge to weaponise hobbyist drones. Chinese-made Mavic drones, for example, retailing at under R80 000 (US$4 910), are part of Ukraine's arsenal. State militaries and armed groups in Africa appear to be increasingly acquiring Ukrainian know-how. Ukraine has long been among the top 10 weapons suppliers globally,accordingto the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and has been involved in peacekeeping in Angola, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Now Ukraine is fast developing a drone manufacturing and modification industry to supply African clients, ranging from surveillance to longer-range armed drones. Follow us onWhatsApp|LinkedInfor the latest headlines Ghana ha…