Egypt and Turkey have signed a new agreement to locally produce a VTOL-UAV Torgha drone in Egypt.
The VTOL-UAV is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Turkish company Havelsan, RT reported on Tuesday.
The new agreement was signed between the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), an economic entity affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production and the backbone of Egypt’s defense and civilian industries, and the Turkish company Havelsan, which will produce the drone.
This step aims to localize drone technology at the Kader Advanced Industrial Factory.
The signing of the new agreement comes within the AOI’s plan to strengthen partnerships with major international companies, in line with the organization’s clear vision to attract investment, meet local market needs, and open new export outlets – as part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The AOI affirmed that the agreement falls within its strategy to deepen local manufacturing and attract foreign investment, in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The chairman of the AOI, Mokhtar Abdel-Latif explained that the cooperation with Havelsan serves as a crucial step towards transferring the latest defense technologies, with a focus on meeting local market needs and opening export markets in Africa and the Arab region.
Havelsan expressed its appreciation towards its partnership with the Egyptian organization, praising the capabilities of the Kader factory and expressing its aspiration to expand cooperation in other industrial fields.
Turkey hails agreement
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen, meanwhile, hailed the signing of this agreement between the Turkish company and Egypt, calling it a “blessing” for strengthening industrial and defense cooperation between the two countries.
He also announced that commencement of drone production at the Havelsan factory in Egypt.
The Torgha VTOL-UAV is an advanced reconnaissance and surveillance system, capable of operating in complex environments and with integrated artificial intelligence systems for real-time data analysis, making it ideal for military and security missions such as border surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Havelsan is one of Turkey’s leading defense and information technology companies, specializing in the development of command and control systems, drones, and unmanned vehicles, including the Baha UAV and the Burakan ground vehicle.
Relations between Egypt and Turkey have improved significantly since 2023, following years of tension due to political differences.
In February 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Cairo, where he signed several economic and military cooperation agreements with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Torgha production agreement is an extension of this rapprochement, in addition to a previous agreement in March to produce unmanned ground vehicles between Havelsan and the Kader factory.
