For decades, African militaries have relied heavily on foreign suppliers for weapons and military equipment. Countries like China, Russia, the United States, Turkey, and France have dominated Africa’s arms market.
They supply everything from rifles and helicopters to drones and communication systems.
But a quiet change is now taking place across the continent. African governments are starting to invest in building their own defence industries instead of depending almost entirely on foreign powers.
The Problem with Imported Power
On paper, imported weapons promise advanced military strength. In reality, many African countries struggle to maintain the expensive equipment they buy.
One clear example is Mali.
Beginning in 2021, Russia supplied Mali with fighter jets and attack helicopters to help fight insurgents in the Sahel region. However, within months, key aircraft were lost or grounded due to maintenance failures. The Malian military lacked the technical expertise and spare parts needed to keep them operational.
Meanwhile, rebel groups using basic weapons such as rifles and improvised explosives continued to challenge government forces.
Even stronger economies face similar issues.
In South Africa, only about half of the Swedish-built Gripen fighter jets were operational by mid-2024 due to parts shortages and maintenance gaps. The country’s state-owned defence company, Denel, once a global leader in aerospace manufacturing, has faced financial struggles and governance problems.
In Ghana, ambitious naval expansion plans have been slowed because modern warships are extremely expensive — sometimes costing half the country’s annual defence budget.
These examples highlight a key issue: imported military systems are costly, complex, and often difficult to sustain without foreign technical support.
A Shift Toward Local Solutions
African leaders are now pushing for more independence in defence production.
In August 2025, Nigeria hosted 37 African defence chiefs to discuss developing local security solutions. Nigerian military leadership encouraged African countries to invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology.
Nigeria has already made major steps:
Expanding local production of small arms and ammunition
Developing rocket systems
Creating AI-enabled wearable technology for soldiers
Building drone manufacturing capacity
Nigeria’s drone factory in Abuja can reportedly produce up to 10,000 drones per year. These include lightweight surveillance drones and long-endurance combat drones.
Nigeria is not alone.
Nine African countries now produce drones. Twenty-one African nations operate satellites. Countries like Kenya and Senegal are experimenting with 3D printing for spare parts and using drone swarms for border security.
Morocco’s Rising Defence Industry
Among African nations, Morocco has made some of the most impressive progress.
Morocco has tripled its arms exports in recent years and aims to become a defence manufacturing hub. It has partnered with India’s Tata Motors to locally produce armoured vehicles and is collaborating with Israeli companies to manufacture military drones.
By encouraging foreign firms to invest locally, Morocco is reducing dependency while creating jobs and technical skills.
Why This Shift Matters
This move toward local production reflects a deeper concern: security independence.
African governments increasingly understand that relying on foreign powers for critical defence systems can limit their ability to make independent security decisions.
By developing local supply chains, they can:
Maintain and repair equipment faster
Reduce long-term costs
Adapt technology to local security challenges
Build skilled technical workforces
Participate in the global arms market
However, experts caution that building defence industries requires more than factories. Strong institutions, skilled engineers, regulatory systems, and ethical safeguards are essential. Without proper oversight, new technologies could be misused or strengthen corrupt leadership.
Limits to Full Independence
While progress is real, complete self-sufficiency remains unlikely in the near future.
Advanced missile systems, high-end fighter aircraft, semiconductors, and frontier AI technologies still require global supply chains. African countries will continue to depend on international partnerships for complex systems.
But the difference now is strategic direction.
Instead of being only buyers of military hardware, African nations are positioning themselves as producers — and in some cases, exporters.
A New Chapter for African Defence
Africa’s defence transformation is still in its early stages, but the momentum is clear.
From drone production in Nigeria to manufacturing hubs in Morocco, the continent is slowly reshaping its security future.
The next challenge is ensuring that these new capabilities serve citizens, strengthen peace, and promote accountability — rather than simply expanding military power.
The shift from imported weapons to homegrown defence is not just about guns and drones. It is about sovereignty, sustainability, and the ability to secure Africa on its own terms.
