The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has announced a joint venture with Gray Insignia Nigeria to develop weapon systems tailored for the Nigerian military and other security agencies. Production of these weapons could begin before the end of the year in Nigeria.
The joint venture, known as DGI, between DICON and Gray Insignia Nigeria, has already seen the creation of the Hawk Sniper Rifle, designed and made in Nigeria. This rifle has undergone testing and is ready for full-scale production for the Nigerian Armed Forces (AFN).
In November 2021, Gray Insignia completed tests on the Gray Insignia Hawk, a Sniper Weapon System (SWS) designed in Nigeria. The rifle, known for its accuracy and lightweight modular design, is easy to maintain and operate. It is specifically built with the Nigerian soldier in mind, considering the challenging environments in which Nigerian troops and law enforcement officers operate.
In 2020, Gray Insignia signed a technical partnership with the Chinese company Norinco for the production of AK-47 type assault rifles and 7.62mm and 9mm caliber ammunition.
During the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Retired Admiral Francis Akpan, Director of DICON GRAY INSIGNIA (DGI), and Garba Ibrahim, the company’s CEO, spoke with ARISE News about their mission to transform Nigeria’s defence sector. They discussed DGI’s ongoing efforts to build capacity for developing advanced weapon systems for the Nigerian military, law enforcement, and other security agencies. The leaders emphasized the importance of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and creating competitive domestic solutions.
Recognizing Africa’s untapped market potential, they expressed confidence that Nigeria could become a leader in regional defence production, fostering innovation and enhancing both national and continental security.
In addition to this partnership, DICON is already collaborating with the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) for the production and technology transfer of Beryl M762 assault rifles in Nigeria. While the number of rifles to be produced in Nigeria was not disclosed, the country has at least 2,000 of these rifles. The Nigerian army is one of the few outside Poland to field the Beryl.
This initiative is part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to adopt its “Smart Soldier” concept, which aims to leverage advanced technologies to improve personnel operations and effectiveness. Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, highlighted this during a seminar on “Digital Transformation and Smart Soldier Concept” organized by the Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, held at the 3 Division headquarters in Jos, Plateau State, last year.
Following the lessons learned from combating Boko Haram, the Nigerian Army has embarked on a series of technology-driven initiatives to equip its troops with sophisticated equipment to defeat the enemy.
