Quadcopters, electromagnetic rifles and AI navigation tools filled the halls of Egypt’s EDEX defence expo, where global manufacturers courted buyers in a region increasingly shaped by drone warfare.
Cheap and lethal UAVs, honed on Ukraine’s battlefields, now influence conflicts from Ethiopia and Sudan to Libya and Yemen, creating a booming market worth billions.
Egypt hosted more than 450 exhibitors at the biennial fair, drawing uniformed delegations from Kenya, Rwanda, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and others seeking cutting-edge hardware.
Cairo hopes its growing military-industrial base, supported by substantial US aid, will transform the country into a regional defence production hub.
State-owned firms struck agreements with leading manufacturers, including a deal with China’s Norinco to co-produce rocket-equipped drones for future export.
Egypt also reached an understanding with France’s Dassault Aviation to manufacture spare parts for Rafale fighter jets already operated by its air force.
Amstone International, an Egyptian defence company, said it secured multiple contracts for its single-use “kamikaze” Jabbar drones and aims to expand globally.
Industry officials spoke of a rapidly shifting technological landscape driven by lessons learned from Ukraine’s heavily contested skies.
Red Cat Holdings, a US drone maker, said the conflict created a real-world testing ground where innovations evolve at unprecedented speed.
The company hopes to attract Middle Eastern customers while continuing to supply surveillance and reconnaissance drones to US forces and African partners.
Latvia’s Eraser showcased quadcopters used by its defence ministry and Ukraine’s “Drone Coalition,” seeking new opportunities in African and Arab markets.
Demand also surged for anti-drone systems, ranging from South Korean electromagnetic rifles to China’s “Sky Dome” network promising layered defence against drone swarms.
India’s Kommlabs displayed a drone-capture system using sensors and laser guidance to trap hostile drones before lowering them safely.
Azerbaijan’s Synapline offered AI navigation software designed to keep drones flying even when GPS signals are jammed, drawing strong interest from African states.
Exhibitors agreed that the future battlefield will be dominated by drones and counter-drones, with EDEX providing a vivid glimpse of that emerging reality.
