Nigeria military need drone as it will reduce the high death rate of military personnel

Written by Declan Walsh

After Ethiopia’s embattled prime minister pulled off a stunning military victory earlier this month, reversing a rebel march on the capital that threatened to overthrow him, he credited the bravery of his troops.

“Ethiopia is proud of your unbelievable heroism,” the jubilant leader, Abiy Ahmed, told his troops on the battlefront at Kombolcha, on Dec. 6. “You were our confidence when we said Ethiopia would never lose.”

In reality, the reason for the reversal in Abiy’s fortunes was hovering in the skies above: a fleet of combat drones, recently acquired from allies in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere who are determined to keep him in power.

Over the past four months, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iran have quietly supplied Abiy with some of the latest armed drones, even as the United States and African governments were urging a cease-fire and peace talks, according to two Western diplomats who have been briefed on the crisis and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The motives of Abiy’s suppliers varied: to make money; to gain an edge in a strategic region; and to back a winner in the spiraling conflict that has engulfed Africa’s second most populous nation. But the impact of the drones was striking — pummeling Tigrayan rebels and their supply convoys as they pushed down a major highway toward the capital, Addis Ababa. The rebels have since retreated roughly 270 miles by road to the north, erasing months of battlefield gains.

On Sunday, the Tigray leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, told the United Nations he had ordered an immediate withdrawal of all forces to the borders of Tigray, citing, among other factors, “the drones provided by foreign powers.”

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Debretsion called for a cease-fire followed by peace talks. “We trust that our bold act of withdrawal will be a decisive opening for peace,” he wrote.

On Monday, his spokesperson said that a wave of Ethiopian airstrikes inside Tigray had killed 18 civilians and wounded 11.

An Ethiopian government spokesperson did not respond to questions about the use of drones.

The demonstration of drone power confirmed that Ethiopia’s year-old conflict, largely a regional affair until now, has been internationalized. And it adds the country to a growing list of conventional conflicts, like those in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, where combat drones have become a significant factor in the fight, or even the dominant one.

“Increasingly, unmanned systems are becoming a game changer,” said Peter W. Singer, an expert on drone warfare at New America, a research group in Washington. “It’s not just about the raw capability of the drones themselves — it’s the multiplying effect they have on nearly every other human and system on the battlefield.”

For Abiy, the drones arrived just in time.

He launched a military campaign in Tigray in November 2020, a year after he won the Nobel Peace Prize, in coordination with the leader of neighboring Eritrea. But his forces suffered a humiliating defeat last summer when Tigrayan rebels forced them from Tigray, then started to push south. By late November, the Tigrayans were approaching the city of Debre Birhan, about 85 miles north of Addis Ababa.

But they could go no further. Swarms of drones appeared overhead, striking soldiers and supply convoys, Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae, a leading Tigrayan commander, said in an interview with The New York Times.

“At one time, there were 10 drones in the sky,” he said. “You can imagine the effect. We were an easy target.”

Abiy built his drone arsenal by tapping the sympathy of foreign autocrats and a booming segment of the global arms trade.

Even as he talked about negotiations, Abiy was turning to other countries to bolster his military. Nearly every day, cargo flights arrived from a military base in the United Arab Emirates, one of Abiy’s closest allies.

The Emiratis had trained Abiy’s Republican Guard and provided crucial military support at the start of the war, running drone strikes that took out Tigrayan artillery and weapons depots, a Western official and a former Ethiopian official said.

The Emirati strikes stopped in January after President Joe Biden came to power, under pressure from Washington. But they have resumed in recent months, largely in the form of the latest Chinese-made drones, the officials said.

The Emirati drone strikes, under the direction of national security adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan, appear to be a snub to American diplomatic efforts to end the war. American officials say they are trying to draw the UAE into peace efforts as an ally, but that cooperation is limited.

In a recent meeting with the U.S. regional envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, al-Nahyan denied that his country was shipping weapons to Ethiopia, an American official with knowledge of the meeting said.

By contrast, Abiy’s dealings with Turkey have been relatively open.

He signed a military pact in August with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose Bayraktar TB2 drone played a decisive role in Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is manufactured by a company run by Erdogan’s son-in-law.

Turkish drones are attractive to many African countries seeking battle-tested, relatively cheap hardware with few strings attached. “Even in Africa, everywhere I go, they want UAVs,” Erdogan boasted in October after a tour of Nigeria, Togo and Angola. (Drones are also known as unmanned aerial vehicles).

After Bayraktar drones appeared in Ethiopia recently, Turkish officials insisted the drone sale was a purely commercial activity — defense and aviation exports to Ethiopia rose to $95 million this year, up from $235,000 in 2020, the Turkish Exporters Assembly reported.

But in recent days, Turkish officials have privately claimed to have frozen exports to Ethiopia, apparently in response to international pressure over a war that has become a byword for atrocities and starvation.

At least 400,000 people are living in famine-like conditions, according to the U.N.

In response to reports of civilians killed, detained or expelled, the United Nations Human Rights Council agreed on Friday to set up a commission to investigate abuses and identify perpetrators — the latest of many international initiatives that, until now, have failed to stop the suffering.

Abiy, meanwhile, is focused on his military campaign and its foreign sponsors. On Friday he landed in Istanbul for the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit — a two-day gathering of leaders from 39 African countries that, analysts say, is also a forum for Turkish arms sales.

His embrace of Iranian drones, although much less powerful than the Chinese or Turkish-made models, has further strained his relations with Washington.

Since August, a number of cargo flights have arrived in Ethiopia operated by Iranian airlines that the U.S. has accused of being fronts for the Quds Force, the expeditionary wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Flight-tracking blogs have made note of the shipments as well.

American officials in Addis Ababa have made private representations to Abiy about the Iranian flights, urging him to cut them off, a U.S. official said.

Abiy’s drone army remains modest: By several estimates, he has no more than a few dozen combat drones at his disposal, and they can be expensive to run, repair and supply with weapons. But they remain a potent threat to the Tigrayan forces, which themselves have no access to drones.



Singer, the drone expert, said the experimentation with drone warfare in Ethiopia and Libya has parallels with the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, when outside powers used the fight to test new military technologies and to gauge international reaction to determine what they could get away with. “It’s a combination of war and battle lab,” he said.

But, he added, technology is no guarantee of victory. “The U.S. had drones in Afghanistan, yet the Taliban managed to hold out for 20 years,” he said. “Human will is what determines the outcome of war.”

Why are we not using same strategies to fight terrorism here....

Karemarealty288:
Why are we not using same strategies to fight terrorism here....

You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Idumuje:

Not true. Drones can play a crucial role in the conflicts in Nigeria.

I do not want to talk much on this topic before, I don even forget about the topic of not for the two pigs that drew my attention back on the topic.

Now my question to you now is that

Have the Nigerian military been using drones in the North East and North West or not?

Did the USA use drones in Afghanistan or they didn't? If the USA used Drones in Afghanistan why didn't the USA destroy the Talibans'?

If the Nigeria military have been using drones against Boko, ISWAP and Bandits, why haven't we win the war on insurgency?

DubaiLandLord:
You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Not true. Drones can play a crucial role in the conflicts in Nigeria. Think the hordes of enemy combatants occupying places like Sambisa and our territories. Drones can loiter in the air for hours, quietly and gather vital intelligence, safely and cheaply. They will strike at targets of opportunity at will. They can also provide troop combat cover. With a fleet of drones as eyes in the sky, there’ll be fewer hiding places for bandits and terrorists

Drones, if well managed, are probably the most suitable for these conflicts

Drones will definitely define the next Nigeria civil war, the smartest drones makers will take the war.

DubaiLandLord:
You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Is this one normal at all?

You prefer somebody's son, husband, father, uncle to turn casualties of war when drones can easily take their place. You heartless.

DubaiLandLord:
You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Insightful....thanks Dude

Karemarealty288:


Insightful....thanks Dude

You are a fool for describing what he wrote as insightful.
I am sorry

Idumuje:

Not true. Drones can play a crucial role in the conflicts in Nigeria. Think the hordes of enemy combatants occupying places like Sambisa and our territories. Drones can loiter in the air for hours, quietly and gather vital intelligence, safely and cheaply. They will strike at targets of opportunity at will. They can also provide troop combat cover. With a fleet of drones as eyes in the sky, there’ll be fewer hiding places for bandits and terrorists

Drones, if well managed, are probably the most suitable for these conflicts

Nigeria should reach out to Turkey, for that nation has become a dominant player in the design and manufacture of both combat and surveillance drones, all of which have been battle-tested with great success in various recent theaters of war.

If an upstart small nation such as Ukraine could deploy Turkish drones to devastating effect against artillery emplacements fielded by Russia, the giant bully on the block, then it stands to reason that Nigeria could buy fleets of Turkish drones and use them to immediately turn the tide against all terror groups currently bedeviling the country.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt94hh3-emw

Specifically, Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone has become the go-to combat drone for multiple nations due to its cost-effectiveness, mission versatility, munitions payload, and ease of maintenance. Here is a short video about this particular model of Turkish drone that could be purchased right away to deliver a paradigm shift difference in Nigeria's northern battlefields within 24 hours.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSy0wJv6u70

If any Nigerian military officials are reading this post, Bayraktar drones cost between 1 and 2 million dollars each, depending on the customer's configuration requests. Compared to the multi-million dollar price of manned aircraft, this pricing is eminently affordable, with the added benefit that no human pilots are placed in war-front danger when drones are used as opposed to manned aircraft. This is the official website of the company

https://www.baykartech.com/en/

UselessBuhari:
You are a fool for describing what he wrote as insightful.
I am sorry

So what's your business in what I chose to believe ...you see why nairaland is dump shit of miscreants and dim-witted idiots....its the dingy smelly vagina that gave birth to you that is a fool...this is what happens when half baked illiterates and inconsequential lumlookers gets cyber-freedom.

Arguing without critical thinking....forgetting about human shields and its collateral damages.

DubaiLandLord:
You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Many of the times you don't know how fvckingly stupid you sound. Why don't you just keep quiet if you don't know what to say.

Where you from?

MrSamsung:


Many of the times you don't know how fvckingly stupid you sound. Why don't you just keep quiet if you don't know what to say.

Where you from?

I'm sorry I don't know who you're Okoro.

If your uselses sef dey get problem with Wetin I dey write on top Nairaland, then nah your family problem be that.

So please, swerve comot my front pig

I won't be reading your next dumb reply, not to talk of replying the gibberish.

DubaiLandLord:
I'm sorry I don't know who you're Okoro.

If your uselses sef dey get problem with Wetin I dey write on top Nairaland, then nah your family problem be that.

So please, swerve comot my front pig

I won't be reading your next dumb reply, not to talk of replying the gibberish.

You are nut and you don't know it.

OP remove that picture ..that's not the kind of drones we talking bout here

kettykings:
Drones will definitely define the next Nigeria civil war, the smartest drones makers will take the war.

It will not!
The concept of civil wars on African soil is to profit war merchants and not to resolve conflicts

DubaiLandLord:
You can't compare the war in the North East to what is happening in Ethiopia.

Nigeria do not need to use those kind of advance drones against terrorists and bandits all over Nigeria.

What is happening in Ethiopia is a civil war, the one in the North East is called Insurgency war

Read what you wrote again and see if u made any sense

FarahAideed:
OP remove that picture ..that's not the kind of drones we talking bout here

I noticed that too haha. That picture posted by the OP is of a medical delivery drone for vaccines and blood serum, of the sort used in Rwanda and other countries with poor road infrastructure.

FarahAideed:


Read what you wrote again and see if u made any sense

You are daft bro.

If you don't understand what I wrote, then is your headache.

Idumuje:

Not true. Drones can play a crucial role in the conflicts in Nigeria. Think the hordes of enemy combatants occupying places like Sambisa and our territories. Drones can loiter in the air for hours, quietly and gather vital intelligence, safely and cheaply. They will strike at targets of opportunity at will. They can also provide troop combat cover. With a fleet of drones as eyes in the sky, there’ll be fewer hiding places for bandits and terrorists

Drones, if well managed, are probably the most suitable for these conflicts

That is if you are in a conventional war!
The north east suffers from sympthatism,ideologies and constant moving targets!

Unlike what you have in Ethiopia!
In short Ethiopia was not to have been in a civil war at all!
Instead you have a war hungry Ethiopian head of state going to war with another war hungry regional army to profit foreign bodies.
It is idiotic!

Jakumo:


I noticed that too haha. That picture posted by the OP i
s of a medical delivery drone for vaccines and blood serum, of the sort used in Rwanda and other countries with poor road infrastructure.

I did that is the type of drones I support not that evil equipment that is profiting war merchants

I wander why some of you daft thing dey wail about my comment

Is not that I give a dam but abeg make Una just stop wailing on my comment, is not my fault my comment is causing pains in your heart.

Jakumo:


Nigeria should reach out to Turkey, for that nation has become a dominant player in the design and manufacture of both combat and surveillance drones, all of which have been battle-tested with great success in various recent theaters of war.

If an upstart small nation such as Ukraine could deploy Turkish drones to devastating effect against artillery emplacements fielded by Russia, the giant bully on the block, then it stands to reason that Nigeria could buy fleets of Turkish drones and use them to immediately turn the tide against all terror groups currently bedeviling the country.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt94hh3-emw

Specifically, Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone has become the go-to combat drone for multiple nations due to its cost-effectiveness, mission versatility, munitions payload, and ease of maintenance. Here is a short video about this particular model of Turkish drone that could be purchased right away to deliver a paradigm shift difference in Nigeria's northern battlefields within 24 hours.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSy0wJv6u70

If any Nigerian military officials are reading this post, Bayraktar drones cost between 1 and 2 million dollars each, depending on the customer's configuration requests. Compared to the multi-million dollar price of manned aircraft, this pricing is eminently affordable, with the added benefit that no human pilots are placed in war-front danger when drones are used as opposed to manned aircraft. This is the official website of the company

https://www.baykartech.com/en/

Impressive

DubaiLandLord:
You are daft bro.

If you don't understand what I wrote, then is your headache.

You are saying Boko Haram and bandits should be pampered because they haven't called it a civil war ...who is the daft one here ? Huh?

Ethiopia did not want a break up but it had a bitter war that lead to breakup of eritea.eritea now fought the tigray to further another breakup.the us warned eritea to back off.20 years of peace ensured initiating stability but other areas needed improvement.this lead to protest to fight corruption.a new head of state emerged.the head of state normalized relations with eritea.it now formed a new govt and Ally with eritea to fight tigray that is within Ethiopia.
It is the most useless civil war a country can have

DubaiLandLord:
I wander why some of you daft thing dey wail about my comment

Is not that I give a dam but abeg make Una just stop wailing on my comment, is not my fault my comment is causing pains in your heart.

The problem with your comment is calling that of Ethiopia a civil war and bokoharam an insurgency war!
Of which you are correct!
Now should the Nigeria army invest in the use of drones to either gather intelligence or as a combat vehicle

baralatie:
Ethiopia did not want a break up but it had a bitter war that lead to breakup of eritea.eritea now fought the tigray to further another breakup.the us warned eritea to back off.20 years of peace ensured initiating stability but other areas needed improvement.this lead to protest to fight corruption.a new head of state emerged.the head of state normalized relations with eritea.it now formed a new govt and Ally with eritea to fight tigray that is within Ethiopia.
It is the most useless civil war a country can have

This post shows a deep understanding of Ethiopia's recent history. Now with that country being turned into a Chinese colony, complete with a massive Chinese military base protecting major Chinese industries there, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Ethiopia and her breakaway fragments.

FarahAideed:


You are saying Boko Haram and bandits should be pampered because they haven't called it a civil war ...who is the daft one here ? Huh?

No where in my post did I say drones shouldn't be used against Boko and Bandits, infact the military have been using the Win Looong ii to attack them.

Why should the Nigerian military spend more than $5m to buy the Barayakat why we can keep on buying more Win Looong ii that operate on the same level with a Barayakat and cost far less than $5m?

If you feel drones is this important in wining counterinsurgency war, why did the US drones not help them in routing the Talibans'?

Knowing the difference between a counterinsurgency war and a civil war will make you know the advantage and disadvantage of using drones in both wars.

Jakumo:


This post shows a deep understanding of Ethiopia's recent history. Now with that country being turned into a Chinese colony, complete with a massive Chinese military base protecting major Chinese industries there, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Ethiopia and her breakaway fragments.

The Chinese has investments in the east of Africa notably somalia and Kenya.
Other African countries with investments in that region include The United Arab Emirates in Somalia and djbouti (I think) and it has a military contingent stationed in that region!
Already Ethiopia has tilted the dynamics with it's china sponsored electric hydro dam construction which is affected Egypt,Sudan and it is a big problem (unresolved).
So if Ethiopia plunges into another unending civil war .how the dynamics play out it will be interesting.
I strongly believe the interest is in the control of the sea route at the horn of Africa!
Now Turkey

kettykings:
Drones will definitely define the next Nigeria civil war, the smartest drones makers will take the war.

Why do you think president of Turkey came to Nigeria.

baralatie:

The problem with your comment is calling that of Ethiopia a civil war and bokoharam an insurgency war!
Of which you are correct!
Now should the Nigeria army invest in the use of drones to either gather intelligence or as a combat vehicle

The Nigerian military have been using drones for gathering intelligence and attacking Boko and ISWAP for years now.

Drones alone can't end the insurgency in the North East.

DubaiLandLord:
The Nigerian military have been using drones for gathering intelligence and attacking Boko and ISWAP for years now.

Drones alone can't end the insurgency in the North East.

This I know is true