Ethiopia Receives Russian Light Attack Aircraft and UAVs

Defence Web published on 30 January 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia Acquires Yak-130 Trainer, Orion-E UAVs from Russia" by Guy Martin.  

The Ethiopian Air Force has acquired the Orion-E unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the Yak-130 jet trainer and ground attack aircraft from Russia.  

 The Robert Lansing Institute published on 30 January 2026 an article titled "Russia's Arms Exports to Ethiopia and the Erosion of U.S. Leverage in the Horn of Africa."

The article notes that the transfer of Russian drones undermines US efforts to promote standards for responsible use and control over the equipment.

UN Alarmed by Growing Houthi-Israel Attacks

 UN News published on 30 December 2024 an article titled "UN Official Warns against Further Escalation Amid Attacks in Yemen, Israel and the Red Sea."

A senior UN official warned that Houthi missile and UAV attacks on Israel followed by Israeli air attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen have escalated the Red Sea crisis to the point of grave concern and could jeopardize regional security.

Iranian Drones Help Sudan's Army against Rapid Support Forces

 Reuters published on 10 April 2024 an article titled "Sudan Civil War: Are Iranian Drones Helping the Army Gain Ground?" by Khalid Abdelaziz, Parisa Hafezi, and Aidan Lewis.

Iranian-made drones have helped the Sudan Armed Forces turn the tide of war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces by pinpointing positions in the Khartoum capital area for artillery strikes.  In return, Iran gets a staging post on Sudan's Red Sea coast.

Algeria Acquires State-of-the-Art Chinese UAVs

 Military Africa published on 22 March 2024 an article titled "Algeria Enhances Aerial Capabilities with Advanced WJ-700 Falcon UAVs" by Darek Liam.  

Algeria is acquiring 4 state-of-the-art WJ-700 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.  These large UAVs can carry substantial payloads, including anti-ship missiles.  The procurement occurs during ongoing regional tensions with Morocco, which has also been upgrading its military hardware.

Democratic Republic of Congo Purchases Armed Drones from China

 The Diplomat published on 20 March 2023 an article titled "China Sends Military Drones to DRC Amid Fears of Regional War" by Robert Bociaga, a photojournalist.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation will soon supply nine Caihong 4 (CH-4) attack drones to help Kinshasa fight the Rwanda-backed rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising concerns about China's role in the conflict.

China's Security Presence in the Middle East and North Africa

Fathom Journal published in its winter 2022 edition a commentary titled "Navigating China's Security Presence in the Middle East and North Africa" by Grant Rumley and Carol Silber.   

The article lays out the growing security relationship between China and countries in the Middle East and North Africa.  It concludes that countries in the region will try to balance their relations with China and the United States.

Morocco Buys Armed Chinese Drones

 The Defense Post published on 4 October 2022 an article titled "Morocco Buys Chinese Military Drones" by Joe Saballa.

The Royal Moroccan Army has purchased advanced military Wing Loong II medium-altitude drones from China.  They will replace an older version of Chinese drones.  

Chinese UAVs Get Tested in Libya

 China Brief published on 31 August 2020 an article titled "The Strategic Implications of Chinese UAVs: Insights from the Libyan Conflict" by Ryan Oliver, U.S. Army National Guard.  

China has become the world's leading exporter of combat UAVs.  They have become a key part of the civil war in Libya where the UAE supplies Chinese UAVs to Khalifa Haftar's Benghazi-based Libyan National Army (LNA) and Turkey supplies UAVs to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).  Between April 2018 and November 2019 there were more than 1,000 strikes from UAVs in Libya--with over 800 conducted by Chinese-made UAVs on behalf of the LNA and more than 240 carried out by Turkish UAVs on behalf of the GNA.  

Although China did not provide the Wing Loong II UAVs directly to the LNA, their employment by third parties provided the benefit of battle-testing its equipment without the risk of military or diplomatic repercussions.   

Africa and Chinese Arms Transfers

The UK-based Royal United Services Institute published on 20 April 2017 a brief analysis titled "Chinese Arms Exports Contradict Its International Messaging" by James Shinnie.

It looks at China's arms transfers to Africa, cooperative security agreements, and Chinese support for UN peacekeeping operations.

The article erroneously states that "China is now the largest single contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping." As of 28 February 2017, China had 2,567 personnel assigned to UN peacekeeping operations globally. Eleven other countries, including six African countries, had more personnel assigned to UN peacekeeping operations on that date. Xi Jinping's 2015 announcement of allocating 8,000 Chinese soldiers to the UN's standby force does not constitute assigned personnel. Nor is it clear that all of the 8,000 personnel have even been identified on paper.

China's Armed Drone Sales Include African Countries

Foreign Policy published on 14 January 2016 an article titled "Meet China's Killer Drones" by Adam Rawnsley.  It describes China's production and export of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones.  Countries that have purchased the drones include Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, and Iraq.  Algeria has tested the drones, which China's sells with fewer restrictions and at less cost than US produced drones.  There are, however, questions about quality. 

Chinese Military Sales to Nigeria and Algeria

Defence Web announced recently that Nigeria and Algeria are in the process of purchasing sophisticated military equipment from China.  These announcements are reminders of an important Chinese export to Africa that receives very little coverage in the media. 

An article dated 30 January 2014 and titled "China Launches First Nigerian Offshore Patrol Vessel" reported that the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company launched the Nigerian Navy's first of two P-18N offshore patrol vessels.  The first vessel was built entirely in China while between 50 and 70 percent of the second ship will be constructed in Nigeria in an effort to enhance local shipbuilding capability and provide technology transfer.  Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the middle of 2014 and the second to be completed late in 2014 or early in 2015.  The vessels are 95 meters long with a draft of 3.5 meters.  Crew complement is 70 and the vessels can carry a helicopter on the rear deck.  The Nigerian Navy announced that the vessels would mainly be used for maritime surveillance, patrol and response.

An article dated 27 January 2014 and titled "Algeria Acquires Chinese Artillery; Evaluating UAVs" reported that the Algerian military appears to have acquired self-propelled artillery from China and is evaluating Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as it continues to expand its military forces.  Early this year, there was a picture in Algeria of a convoy of about 50 new PLZ 45 self-propelled howitzers, which are made by Norinco for the export market.  Algeria is also reportedly in discussion with China for the purchase of Xianglong UAVs, a jet-powered High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft designed by the Guizhou Aircraft Corporation of China.