By Cremilda Macuácua,China Africa News
Beijing&Cairo-China and Egypt have signed a landmark military-industrial agreement that could reshape defence production in North Africa.
According to official statements from Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and Norinco, the pact centers on a joint manufacturing programme: Egypt will co-produce the armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Hamza-2 a drone based on China’s ASN-209 platform at AOI’s domestic aircraft factory, combining technology transfer, local assembly, and the establishment of a production line for wider defence-system manufacturing.
During the signing, AOI’s Chairman, Major General Mokhtar Abdel Latif, noted that the agreement builds on previous cooperation with Norinco and is designed to localize technology and deepen domestic manufacturing capacities. He emphasized that AOI aims to become a “hub for cooperation, partnership and expertise exchange,” serving Egypt’s defence needs and those of allied nations. Norinco officials added that the agreement represents a first step toward more expansive cooperation across advanced defence industries.
Under the deal, the Hamza-2 UAV will be assembled in Egypt, with components integrated locally airframe parts, avionics, mission systems, and under-wing hardpoints for guided weapons. Reports highlight that this shift marks a transition from Egypt’s historic role as a buyer of foreign-made weapons to becoming a producer, with the potential to manufacture drones not only for domestic use but for export.
This move comes within a broader sweep of defence-industry agreements signed at the exhibition, including cooperation with other foreign partners for UAVs, aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul, and unmanned systems signalling Egypt’s ambition to build a diversified and self-reliant defence-industrial base.
As the global demand for unmanned systems and drone capabilities grows, this agreement could shift regional defence dynamics. For Egypt, it represents a strategic leap toward industrial sovereignty. For Norinco and China, the collaboration deepens their manufacturing footprint beyond Chinese borders now enabling UAV production within the Arab world, potentially supplying broader regional markets.
