New Ghana facility will boost startup Terra Industries’ aerial systems production to 50 000 annually - DefenceWeb
AI Analysis
Terra Industries, a Nigerian defense startup, is expanding with a new drone manufacturing facility in Ghana, aiming for a combined production capacity of 80,000 drones annually by 2028. The company focuses on producing a range of UAVs, including a dedicated interceptor drone ('Kama') for counter-UAS operations. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for drone defense systems in Africa, mirroring trends seen in other conflict zones.
Key Takeaways
- Terra Industries is building a 3,150+ square meter facility in Ghana ('Pax-2') to complement its existing Abuja, Nigeria facility ('Pax-1').
- The company's product line includes the Archer VTOL (surveillance/strike), Iroko (rapid deployment), and Kama (counter-drone interceptor) UAVs.
- Kama interceptor drone is capable of speeds up to 300 km/h and is designed for high-volume production.
- Terra Industries aims for 50,000 drones produced annually in Ghana by 2028, adding to the 30,000 capacity in Nigeria.
- The company locally manufactures key components (software, airframes, propellers, batteries) reducing costs by up to 55% compared to international competitors.
Why It Matters
This development signifies a growing trend of indigenous defense industrial capacity in Africa, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. The focus on counter-drone technology (Kama) highlights the increasing threat posed by drones, particularly by non-state actors in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa. The ability to produce drones locally at a lower cost could significantly impact regional security dynamics and procurement decisions.
New Ghana facility will boost startup Terra Industries’ aerial systems production to 50 000 annually - DefenceWeb
Close Menu
From left to right, Nathan Nwachukwu and Maxwell Maduka, founders of Terra Industries. Photo: Terra Industries
Share
Nigeria-based defence technology startup Terra Industries has begun construction of its second manufacturing facility, in Ghana, which will be the largest drone manufacturing facility on the African continent.
Kown as Pax-2, it follows the almost 1 400 square metre Pax-1 facility in the Nigerian capital Abuja (the Pax factories are named after its Pax Africana vision). While not at full production capacity, the Abuja facility can build up to 30 000 drones a year.
In a statement, the company said – once fully operational by 2028 – the Ghana facility is expected to reach an annual capacity of 50 000 units across Terra’s aerial systems portfolio. The Accra facility will increase Terra Industries’ autonomous security systems manufacturing area by more than 3 150 square metres bringing its total under roof capacity to 4 500 plus square metres.
The Ghana facility will create 120 engineering jobs and operate on a continuous production schedule to meet demand for Terra Industries’ systems across the region. They include the Archer VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), a long-range surveillance and strike platform; the Iroko UAV, designed for rapid tactical deployment; and Terra’s newest addition, Kama, a high speed interceptor drone for counter-drone defence. Capable of speeds of up to 300 km/h, Kama is engineered for high volume production to address a growing need for kinetic interception capabilities, the company said.
Archer VTOL UAV.Photo: Terra Industries
While some sensors and cameras are imported from nations including South Korea, the software, the airframes, the propellers, and the lithium-ion battery packs of the UAVs are manufactured in-house. Local manufacture makes initial hardware purchases up to 55% cheaper than international competitors, Terra Industries claims.
Construction on the Pax-2 facility is in the final phases with June this year set for manufacturing to start. Terra Industries is already manufacturing Archers, Iroko, and 20 Kama interceptor prototypes every day at its Abuja factory, but with Pax-2 the company will focus on ramping up mass-production of the latter two.
The move into Ghana advances Terra’s mission to build Africa’s sovereign defence industrial base, the company said. It comes as there is a shift in modern conflict across the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, where non-state actors increasingly deploy modified commercial and fibre-optic drones as attack systems. These tactics, seen in recent conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, are accelerating demand for integrated defence systems combining surveillance, electronic warfare and kinetic response.
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, Terra Industries – formerly