In the past few months, West African defence startup Terra Industries has been getting a lot of buzz, from raising $22 million in February to partnering with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and then recently opening a factory in Ghana.
Now the company seems to be pushing its next goal in line with its mission to “give Africa the technological edge needed to secure its future.” During a demo yesterday, the company unveiled its new interceptor drone and mine-clearing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system, which could help the Nigerian military.
For over a decade, Nigeria has been battling insurgent groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. But over time, their tactics have changed. Roadside bombs have become more common. Drones, once limited to advanced militaries, are now cheap, adaptable, and widely used, changing how these threats are countered.
“We are unveiling new defence systems such as our interceptor UAVs, our minesweepers, ground vehicles that can detect IEDs on the ground, and our battlefield intelligence software,” said CEO Nathan Nwachukwu in an interview with Reuters.
Each system fits into a simple idea. The interceptor drones are built to identify and stop hostile drones before they reach their targets. On the ground, unmanned vehicles scan for explosives, reducing the need for soldiers to manually clear routes. The software ties both together, feeding real-time data to commanders, all designed with one focus: reducing casualties.
This also signals where the defence industry in the region is heading. For years, countries like Nigeria have relied on imported military equipment—from aircraft to surveillance systems—sourced from countries like China, Turkey, Pakistan, and the United States. That system comes with delays, high costs, and maintenance challenges.
Local production offers a different path. That is where Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) comes in. The state-backed agency is now working with Terra, a move Major General Babatunde Alaya described as necessary, given the rising toll from hidden explosives. "There's no other company that is bringing this on board for our troops in the field to use for real-life problems we are having. For example, our problems with improvised explosive devices we're having in the north," he said.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
