Defense cooperation between Turkey and Egypt reached a new milestone at the EDEX 2025 Egypt Defense Exhibition, where two jointly developed unmanned platforms — AKREP and HAMZA-1 — were revealed for the first time. HAVELSAN, one of Turkey’s leading defense technology companies, presented its software-based solutions and held high-level meetings with visiting delegations, while the newly developed platforms attracted significant attention from regional military officials. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also inspected the systems personally during his tour of the exhibition.

The HAMZA-1, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle engineered through close cooperation between HAVELSAN and the Egyptian Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), stood out as one of the exhibition’s most notable innovations. Displayed at the AOI booth, the platform represents a new, locally produced capability designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and missions requiring operational flexibility in complex environments.

The AKREP Unmanned Ground Vehicle, developed as a 6×6 modular platform capable of integrating a remote-controlled weapon station, fills a critical gap in Egypt’s land systems portfolio. Engineered specifically for desert and harsh terrain conditions, the vehicle was rapidly prototyped through the joint program and made ready for display at EDEX 2025. Its mission versatility and mobility make it a promising solution for future operational needs.

Şevket Ünal, HAVELSAN’s Deputy General Manager for International Business Development and Marketing, emphasized that discussions initiated after EDEX 2023 led to productive collaboration across land, air, naval, and unmanned system domains. He stated that both AKREP and HAMZA-1 benefited from HAVELSAN’s expertise in command-and-control, artificial intelligence, and autonomous technologies. Ünal added that post-exhibition field demonstrations will collect end-user feedback, enabling further refinement of the platforms before they become mission-ready.

The cooperation between Turkey and Egypt not only strengthens bilateral ties but also positions the jointly developed systems for broader deployment across Africa and the Gulf region. Throughout the exhibition, HAVELSAN held meetings with delegations from various African and Middle Eastern countries, highlighting its capabilities in air, land, naval and simulation technologies.