Türkiye’s Havelsan already has a strong presence in Africa – having supplied unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combat management systems, and border security solutions, amongst others – and is looking to further strengthen cooperation and partnerships on the continent.
Şevket Ünal, Havelsan’s Vice President International Business Development & Marketing, told DefenceWeb that Africa is a core pillar of its global cooperation network. “Havelsan has already built partnerships around many of its key solutions, including the ADVENT CMS (Combat Management System), BAHA and BOZBEY UAV systems, border and critical infrastructure security projects, and its simulation and pilot training programme.”
“We also host African delegations and pilots in Türkiye for hands on system evaluations and comprehensive training, which significantly enhances operational readiness. Our goal is to evolve these engagements into long term strategic partnerships supported by joint development, knowledge sharing, and locally adaptable architectures,” he added.
“In Africa, our priority is to create lasting value through technology transfer, capacity building, training programmes, strengthening local capabilities, and establishing maintenance infrastructures. With this model, we aim to contribute to a sustainable security architecture across the region.”
Havelsan operates across five core domains: C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) technologies, simulation and training technologies, autonomous and robotic systems, information and communication technologies, and cybersecurity.
Ünal explained that a central challenge mainly faced in the market is the coexistence of systems sourced from different suppliers and built across different generations. This creates interoperability gaps especially in naval forces where vessels often operate with sensors, weapons and communication suites that cannot naturally talk to each other. “ADVENT Combat Management System directly addresses this problem. With ADVENT CMS, navies gain a consolidated operational picture, faster decision-making capability and smoother coordination across fleets.” Ünal said.
“Similarly, over land and maritime borders, Havelsan’s BAHA and BOZBEY UAV solutions provide persistent, cost-effective surveillance and help African forces maintain situational awareness in areas where conventional assets are limited or overstretched.”
In coastal regions, illegal fishing, smuggling, unregistered vessel movements and maritime accidents are among the key security challenges, Ünal said. “Our MATRA maritime traffic and coastal surveillance system offers a robust solution. This integrated picture allows authorities to detect threats earlier and respond more efficiently.”
“To further support navigation safety, especially in regions with limited trained personnel or challenging visibility conditions, BlueVision – our AI based navigation assistant – helps reduce operational workload by automatically identifying objects and risks in real time.”
In addition to these solutions, Havelsan continues to deliver advanced simulation and training systems. “Our simulation platforms provide high fidelity, integrated training environments that accelerate skills development while reducing operational burden,” Ünal said.
“Across all these engagements, we host African officers and engineers in Türkiye. This hands on collaboration fosters trust and ensures that the solutions we deliver are fully understood, effectively operated and sustainably maintained.”
Indeed, Africa is an increasingly strategic region within Havelsan’s cooperation framework, Ünal told DefenceWeb. The core message the company has for the African market is to support African countries in strengthening their own security architectures.
“Since each country’s conditions differ, our first step is always to analyse the existing structure and design an architecture tailored to national needs. This design is then supported with our capabilities in C4ISR, simulation, autonomous systems, cybersecurity and information technologies. Ultimately, we aim to help create an integrated ecosystem that enhances decision making processes, increases situational visibility and makes operations more manageable,” Ünal said.
“We also believe that a sustainable security architecture can only be built together with local stakeholders. Technology transfer, joint development and training programmes are natural parts of this vision. For this reason, Havelsan’s end to end architectural approach has become a model that resonates strongly across Africa. Looking ahead, our focus remains on developing integrated security architectures together with African countries. We aim to build long term cooperation” Ünal concluded.
More recently, Havelsan in August announced a partnership with Egypt’s Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) for the production of UAVs. During the EDEX defence show last week, AOI displayed the Hamza 1 reconnaissance and surveillance drone developed locally in collaboration with Havelsan. The Hamza 1 is a fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing UAV fitted with an electro-optical gimbal on the nose, based on Havelsan’s BAHA UAV.
Havelsan also developed the Aqrab (Scorpion) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) with AOI. This is equipped with a remotely controlled 12.7 mm gun, electro-optical and infrared cameras, and a laser rangefinder. The 6×6 vehicle can perform patrol, fire support, or reconnaissance missions in high-risk areas without exposing military personnel.
Havelsan is one of Türkiye’s leading defense and high technology companies developing software-oriented, advanced technology solutions. Relying on “AI for Defense” approach, Havelsan increasingly integrates artificial intelligence into every layer of its products and services. “With its deep expertise in mission-critical systems, engineering excellence, technological depth, strong R&D culture and qualified human capital, Havelsan continues to provide the latest technologies to its customers. With a special focus on Africa, Havelsan aims to expand its international footprint across other regions as well,” the company said.
