At the 4th African Air Force Forum (AAFF 2025), held on May 22-23, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, Turkish defense and software company Havelsan showcased its advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the BAHA and BOZBEY.
Hosted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of its 61st anniversary celebrations, the event brought together over 2,000 participants, including 12 Chiefs of Air Staff, representatives from 30 air forces, and 45 industry exhibitors such as Airbus, Aselsan, and Leonardo.
This gathering provided Havelsan with a prime opportunity to present its drone technology to African defense leaders, with Vurol EROL, the company’s International Business Development Manager for Africa, representing Havelsan at the forum.
The BAHA UAV is an Autonomous Sub-Cloud UAV designed with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. This feature allows it to operate without traditional runways, offering flexibility for missions in varied terrains. Built to work seamlessly alongside other unmanned systems in joint operations, the BAHA features a modular architecture that supports a range of payloads.
This adaptability makes it suitable for diverse tasks, with a particular strength in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles. The BAHA’s ability to function effectively in GPS-denied environments stands out as a key asset, ensuring reliability in challenging conditions often encountered in modern combat and future warfare scenarios.
In addition to the BAHA, Havelsan displayed the BOZBEY UAV, a fixed-wing Sub-Cloud Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle tailored to meet the demands of contemporary military units. Like the BAHA, it can perform vertical takeoffs and landings, enabling fully autonomous missions without requiring a runway.
This capability makes it well-suited for deployment in remote or rugged locations. The BOZBEY is designed for joint operations with other unmanned systems and features a modular architecture that accommodates various payloads. Operating below cloud cover, it excels in marking and detection missions, functioning day or night regardless of weather conditions. The UAV can also transmit intelligence data to command centers, providing real-time information to support decision-making.
Havelsan’s presence at the forum went beyond a mere technology demonstration. The company sought to build connections with African defense leaders, aiming to integrate its drones into the arsenals of nations across the continent. Africa’s growing need for advanced UAVs to address security challenges aligns with Havelsan’s offerings, and the event served as a strategic platform to advance this goal.
With delegates from around the world in attendance, the forum fostered discussions on aerospace collaboration, making it an ideal setting for Havelsan to showcase the practical applications of the BAHA and BOZBEY drones.
The 4th African Air Force Forum itself carried added weight due to its timing with the NAF’s 61st anniversary. This milestone allowed the event to blend a celebration of six decades of service with forward-looking conversations about the role of air power in Africa’s future.
The participation of industry leaders and military representatives underscored the forum’s importance as a venue for shaping defense strategies and exploring technological solutions.
Through its display of the BAHA and BOZBEY UAVs, Havelsan demonstrated its commitment to delivering practical, adaptable systems for modern military needs. The BAHA’s ISR capabilities and GPS-denied performance, paired with the BOZBEY’s all-weather detection and intelligence-sharing features, position these drones as valuable tools for enhancing operational effectiveness.
As African nations look to strengthen their defense capabilities, Havelsan’s engagement at the forum reflects a clear intent to contribute to that effort, offering drone technology that can operate in diverse and demanding environments.
