NIAMEY – The Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) has acquired Turkish-made Aksungur drones to enhance their aerial surveillance and strike capabilities, military officials confirmed.
As part of the procurement, six pilots and six payload operators from Niger have completed specialised training at the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy.
The programme included 330 hours of theoretical instruction 318 flight sorties, and 280 hours of hands-on flight training, according to Abdourahamane Oumarou, a Nigerien defence official.
Valued between 15 and 20 million euros per unit, the Aksungur drone represents a significant technological upgrade for Niger’s military.
According to reports from local sources, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) boasts a cruising speed between 180 and 250 kilometres per hour, a payload capacity of 750 kilogrammes, including missiles and other weaponry, and a flight endurance of up to 40 hours. It is equipped with six hardpoints and offers a range of 6,500 kilometres.
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The Aksungur’s capabilities position it ahead of the widely used Bayraktar TB2, which has a range of 150 kilometres and a flight endurance of 27 hours and even surpasses the Akinci drone in endurance, despite the Akinci’s higher payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms and range of 6,000 kilometres.
This announcement came shortly after the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Forces of the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, convened their first official meeting to advance regional air defence cooperation.
Niger’s investment in these long-range drones is expected to significantly strengthen its surveillance operations and precision strike potential across the Sahel region.