According to Guy Martin of Defence Web, Niger has ordered armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Turkish company Nurol Makina, in addition to Bayraktar TB2 UAVs and Hurkus turboprop trainer/light attack aircraft.
President Mohamed Bazoum visited Turkey last week and paid visits to Baykar, which manufactures the Bayraktar TB2 UAV (that currently proves terribly efficient against the Russian invader in Ukraine), Havelsan, Turkish Aerospace, Aselsan, and Roketsan. Niger’s Presidency said that the country has ordered several Bayraktar TB2s, Guy Martin reports. The Presidency said that Niger has also ordered Ejder Yalçin armored vehicles from Nurol Makina which are currently being manufactured, hence President Mohamed Bazoum visiting the Nurol factory last week.
In November last year, Turkish President Recep Erdogan revealed that Niger was acquiring Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, APCs and TAI Hurkus aircraft; the first Hurkus will be delivered by Turkish Aerospace Industries by mid-2022.
Roketsan will be supplying missiles and smart rockets to Niger, which ordered them “a few months ago,” Niger’s Presidency stated. They will likely be used to arm the Hurkus and TB2s. Roketsan manufactures the MAM and MAM-L guided munitions and UMTAS missiles used by the TB2. The Hurkus-C can carry L-UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, Cirit laser-guided rockets, bombs, and cannon pods, although it is not clear which variant of the Hurkus Niger will be getting, Guy Martin writes.