Insecurity: UNICCON, DICON Launch AI-powered Drones to Curb Insurgency 

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The UNICCON Group of Companies in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered ‘kamikaze’ drones to curb insecurity in the country.

The Chairman of UNICCON Group, Prof. Chuks Ekwueme, unveiled the drones during a joint technical demonstration of Integrated Drone Detection and Defence Systems in Abuja, weekend.

At the launch, Ekwueme said the move was a successful validation of sovereign defence technology designed to meet specific security needs of the African continent.

“This is not just an improvised version display, it is a successful validation of sovereign defence technology designed to meet the specific security needs of the continent,” he said.

He identified the breakthrough technologies as Africa’s First Integrated “Kamikaze” System, the UNIKAM-Series and an AI and high-speed Loitering Munition which reaches speeds of 210 plus km/h with an advanced impact radius observed at approximately 200 plus meters.

He also alluded to the “Advanced Drone Detection, Jamming, and Spoofing which is a stationary system capable of detecting over 40 Unidentified Area Vehicles (UAVs) simultaneously up to 8 kilometres away.”

Ekwueme equally cited the Secure Wireless Detonator Munitions, describing it as

a module that successfully initiates high-energy composite warheads from a stand-off distance of 1.5 kilometres with a response time of less than 0.2 seconds,” he said.

Ekwueme noted that the milestone signaled a shift toward African defence and self-reliance, moving from the importation of foreign hardware to the development of indigenous, high-spec tactical systems.

In his remarks, the Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen Babatunde Alaya said, that DICON had evolved over the years by producing small arms, ammunition and specialised vehicles, used by the Nigerian military.

“In order to achieve this, the DICON set up a committee called DICON partnership coordinating committee to interface with local and foreign defence related industries.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with other partners who are already producing the machinery and equipment,” he added.