Announced on 29 December 2025, the contract covers delivery of the systems in a fully ITAR-free configuration, supporting ease of export for international customers. The Aerosonde aircraft will be deployed to enhance security operations protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure. The agreement also includes options for training and additional aircraft to support planned capability expansion, building on a previous Foreign Military Sale contract to the country.

 

The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS features a runway-independent design using Hybrid Quadrotor technology, enabling vertical take-off and landing. Its autonomous operation, proven performance and established reliability make it suitable for security missions across high-risk operational environments.

 

David Phillips, Senior Vice President, Air, Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems, said the platform would provide a significant operational advantage. He noted that the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 is a mature and industry-proven system that will enable Tantita Security Services to expand its capability to protect infrastructure critical to Nigeria’s security and prosperity.

 

The award further extends the global footprint of the Aerosonde family of systems, which have supported international customers for several years. Collectively, Aerosonde UAS platforms have accumulated more than 700,000 flight hours in demanding environments worldwide and are currently operating on more than ten United States Navy ships.

 

Designed as a multi-mission system, the Aerosonde UAS supports multiple payload configurations and is available in both VTOL and fixed-wing variants, allowing flexibility across a wide range of operational requirements.