American firm signs deal to supply advanced drones to Tompolo’s Tantita

By : David Meshioye, 'Sola Akinsanmi

Date: 4 January 2026 3:59pm WAT

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The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS drone

The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS drone

American defence company, Textron Systems, has signed a deal to provide three advanced drones to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a private security company owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo. The drones—Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—can take off and land vertically without needing a runway.

The firm, in a statement shared on its website and dated December 29, 2025, said the systems, which will be provided in a fully ITAR-free configuration to facilitate international export, are designed to operate without the need for runways, using hybrid quadrotor technology to enable vertical takeoff and landing. Textron said it has also included options for additional aircraft and training support to allow Tantita to expand operational capabilities.

“The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS is a mature, highly reliable, and industry-proven autonomous solution that will provide Tantita Security Services with transformational capability to execute their security operations,” said David Phillips, Senior Vice President of Air, Land and Sea Systems at Textron.

“The Aerosonde system’s demonstrated performance and benchmark-setting reliability will enable the Tantita team to expand its capabilities to protect the oil and gas infrastructure essential to Nigerian security and prosperity.” The contract builds on a history of Aerosonde deployments in challenging environments worldwide, including operations from over 10 U.S. Navy ships. The system, capable of carrying multiple payloads and operating in both VTOL and fixed-wing modes, has amassed more than 700,000 flight hours internationally.

Textron Systems said that the sale represents a significant enhancement for security operations in Nigeria, particularly in high-risk sectors where oil and gas assets remain vulnerable to disruption.

The company also noted the option for further acquisitions and training to strengthen Tantita’s operational readiness. Tantita Security Services, a recognised provider of comprehensive security solutions in Nigeria, is expected to deploy the Aerosonde systems for surveillance, rapid response, and infrastructure protection missions, with the goal of improving situational awareness and operational effectiveness in the Niger Delta and other sensitive regions.

This latest contract underscores the growing role of uncrewed systems in national and corporate security operations, reflecting a shift toward technologically advanced solutions for safeguarding critical assets.

Textron Systems, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is known globally for its uncrewed air, surface, and land systems, as well as products in the aerospace, defence, and industrial sectors. The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS represents the company’s latest development in versatile, autonomous security platforms designed to operate reliably in diverse and demanding environments.

Delivery dates for the Aerosonde systems have not been disclosed, but Tantita officials are expected to announce operational deployment plans in the coming months.

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