Ethiopia is advancing towards prosperity and real change via entertaining up to-the-minute expertise using the talents and insights born to its sons and daughters. It has begun manufacturing its own unmanned aerial vehicles for defense and trade. Yes, of late, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated SkyWin Aeronautics Industries, a company that manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles for both civilian and military routines.
Not only has Ethiopia developed the capacity to produce and utilize drones but also to export them to other countries upon request. This industry is part of Ethiopia’s broader efforts to achieve technological self-reliance in the security sector. True, the Sky Win Aeronautics Industries, which would help make the unthinkable possible via possessing locally manufactured drones, is a promising move. As to the Premier, Ethiopia’s ability to produce drones with diverse capabilities—designed and built by its own young professionals, is a hallmark for its commitment to well boom technological advancement.
The country has to exert utmost effort so as to sustain the progress commenced earlier. To this end, investing in continuous research, expand market reach, and strengthen local production of smart sensor technologies have to come to the forefront. No doubt, country’s effort towards utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for various sectors including agriculture, health and military science is highly influential.
It is also well remembered that Ethiopia has applied drones in law enforcement operation and the fight against desert locust swarms. The very important thing that needs to be taken in to account in this regard is that the nation has built its capacity for both manufacturing and using drones but also for exporting them to international markets.
Unequivocally, the drones manufactured locally are expected to strengthen Ethiopia’s sovereignty and defense capabilities meaningfully. It was also cited that the drones are designed to operate efficiently at high altitudes and come equipped with counter-drone systems to neutralize potential aerial threats. This is really an unimaginable advancement towards the state-of-the-art-technology. As the drones utilize advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance their operational effectiveness, nothing could be beyond Ethiopia’s capability and national as well as technological reach.
The country becomes lucky enough hereafter since the drones it produced are capable of intelligence gathering, surveillance, defense, and offensive operations, making them versatile tools for various strategic purposes. The nation has definitely possessed the necessary infrastructure to export these drones to international markets, and the innovation in this regard adds value to strengthen Ethiopia’s position in drone technology and innovation.
This bold move is of instrumental in helping the nation in actively engaging and empowering the young generation to offer valuable drone-based services for military expertise as well as the farming community. The supreme goal of producing drones is to attain peace, security and even regional stability as much as possible. True, as part of its sweeping reform in the defense sphere, Ethiopia is witnessing tremendous advancements in terms of defense manufacturing and achieving technological self-reliance in the security trajectory. In a region historically shaped by external militarization, foreign interventions, and shifting alliances, the ability to produce advanced defense systems can be the call of the day with a view to securing its national interests at its own expanse.
In sum, Ethiopia is aggressively investing in developing drones for export purpose apart from fostering civilian and military disbursement. Thanks to the proliferation of science and technology in the country, highly advanced innovations are well expanded and the locally manufactured drones are designed for high altitude, equipped with AI, and have counter-drone capabilities. Ethiopia’s sovereignty and defense capabilities are presumed to be well kept by producing drones, which are also intended for international trade dealings.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 11 MARCH
