Egyptian-Turkish cooperation is witnessing rapid advancements in the defense industry, as both nations officially enter the phase of joint Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) manufacturing for the first time.
Major General Mokhtar Abdel Latif, Chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), revealed a strategic partnership with Turkish firms to produce ‘Hamza’ drones in Egypt.
In a televised interview with Extra News on Tuesday, Abdel Latif announced that the AOI has already secured a contract with an African nation to export 20 ‘Hamza’ drones—a milestone reflecting growing international confidence in the joint Egyptian-Turkish industrial capacity.
Abdel Latif emphasized that the agreement includes an expedited timeline for joint production, noting a full consensus between Cairo and Ankara to accelerate cooperation in this vital sector to bolster mutual defense capabilities and reflect the deepening of bilateral ties.
Furthermore, the AOI Chairman highlighted Egypt’s established expertise in armored vehicle manufacturing. He confirmed an agreement to export 20 armored vehicles to an African country, including the renowned ‘Fahd’ APCs—produced by the AOI’s Kader Factory—alongside 10 light armored vehicles.
This cooperation signals a remarkable strategic shift in bilateral relations, moving toward a comprehensive partnership that prioritizes defense and security alongside traditional economic and political ties.
On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted an official visit to Cairo, where he and his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, co-chaired the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The summit culminated in the signing of several landmark agreements.
Foremost among these was a Military Framework Agreement signed by Egypt’s Minister of Defense, General Abdel Megeed Saqr, and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.
On Thursday, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler disclosed military deals with Egypt valued at approximately $350 million. The package includes the export of the ‘TOLGA’ Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), developed by the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), to Egypt.
Furthermore, the agreement outlines the establishment of a joint venture between Egypt and MKE to build a factory for the production of long-range artillery and small-caliber ammunition.
This facility is designed to meet the requirements of the Egyptian Armed Forces and facilitate exports to regional markets, further solidifying the growing strategic synergy between Cairo and Ankara.
