Atesci, a prominent Turkish arm equipment producer, has announced a significant commitment to a collaborative project with Afridex to begin the fabrication of weapons, ammunition, and other military hardware in Nigeria, DR Congo, and Kenya.
This partnership aims to enhance local manufacturing capabilities, with a focus on producing a diverse array of ammunition sizes.
The joint venture is backed by a substantial investment totaling tens of millions of euros, signaling Atesci’s commitment to expanding its defense production capacities within the region.
The projected start date for the production facility is July, marking a crucial step toward achieving self-sustainability in ammunition provision for the region.
In 2022, Atesci secured a sizable contract in Kenya to establish ammunition production lines for the Kenya Army. However, the current status of this endeavor remains unclear.
Additionally, Atesci has engaged in a promising technical collaboration with Proforce Nigeria Limited, a key player in Nigeria’s armored vehicle manufacturing sector, specifically for ammunition production.
Atesci’s efforts reflect a broader trend of Turkish defense companies extending their international influence, spurred by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s initiative to bolster Turkey’s global role since 2019.
The company’s extensive product portfolio encompasses land, naval, and air defense systems, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, missile defense systems, and electronic warfare systems. Renowned for its advanced research and development capabilities, Atesci continually innovates and enhances its product range, exporting its products to various countries across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.
Each of the target countries, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Kenya, has diverse sources for their military imports. DR Congo primarily imports weaponry from China, Russia, and Ukraine, while Nigeria’s main importers are the United States, Russia, and China.
Kenya’s military imports originate from a variety of sources, including the United States, China, and Israel, with recent expansions to include more sophisticated equipment such as drones and surveillance systems. Import patterns can vary over time due to factors like political relationships, economic conditions, and evolving military demands, shaping each country’s unique military procurement strategies.
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