A Nigerian private security company has signed a contract to acquire Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft systems, manufactured by Textron Systems, with the aim of strengthening the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure in the country.
The agreement was signed with Tantita Security Services and предусматривает the initial delivery of three Aerosonde systems. The aircraft will be supplied in a configuration completely free of ITAR restrictions, facilitating export and use by international customers.
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According to Textron Systems, the drones will be employed in surveillance and security operations around oil and natural gas facilities in Nigeria, which face recurring threats such as oil theft, vandalism, and sabotage. The contract also includes options for operator training and the acquisition of additional aircraft as Tantita expands its operational capabilities. The new order builds on a previous delivery of Aerosonde systems to Nigeria through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 is designed to operate without runways, using a hybrid quadrotor technology for vertical takeoff and landing before transitioning to fixed-wing flight. The system can carry multiple payloads and conduct long-endurance surveillance missions—capabilities considered essential for continuous operations in high-risk areas.
According to David Phillips, Senior Vice President of Air, Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems, the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 is a mature and highly reliable solution with proven performance in demanding environments. He said the platform will enable Tantita to significantly expand its capabilities in protecting infrastructure deemed vital to Nigeria’s security and economy.
The Aerosonde family of systems has accumulated more than 700,000 flight hours in operations conducted in different regions of the world, including continuous employment aboard more than ten U.S. Navy vessels. The system offers multi-mission capability and can be configured with a range of sensors and payloads in both VTOL and fixed-wing variants.
Source and images: Textron Systems. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
