Chinese drones reshape military dynamics across Africa
African countries are significant recipients of Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles. As the South African portal Defenceweb reports, they often do not pay cash for these drones but allow Chinese companies access to their natural resources.
In the past decade, China has surpassed the United States in producing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, both armed and unarmed, becoming the world's largest exporter.
Africa buys Chinese drones
Military experts, cited by another African portal, Military. Africa, praised Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles in May last year for their long range, ease of use, and, most importantly, their price. The Wing Loong I, costing one million dollars and comparable to the American Predator, can carry bombs and conventional missiles.
In recent years, Chinese drones have been delivered to the armies of Algeria, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. There are currently over 400 on the continent.
Paying with oil for drones
African countries are eager to purchase the cheaper CH-4 in addition to the Wing Loong I. However, Libya possesses the more expensive and advanced Wing Loong II, which Gulf states donated. Nigeria acquired the same drones in exchange for access to oil deposits, utilizing them in its fight against Boko Haram, the jihadist movement challenging this most populous country in Africa. Sudan also paid with oil for drones from China.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo bought three CH-4 Rainbow drones from China last year. It immediately utilized them in the eastern part of the country to combat M23 militants and the supporting Rwandan forces. A year earlier, it had purchased nine such drones.
Chinese systems for disrupting drone operations, Ching Kong, have also been successful in Africa. They are available on the Chinese site Global Sources for $2,700 each. Sudanese government forces, for instance, are using them in their almost year-long conflict with the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In Africa, Chinese drones compete with machines from Israel and Turkey, which offer TAI Aksungurs and the popular Bayraktar TB2s. Since 2019, Ankara has sold over 40 drones to 10 African countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad.
Africa is also emerging as a drone producer. Thirteen companies, including Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, have developed drones in seven countries.
