Terra Industries Launches Africa's Largest Drone Factory in Ghana, Targets 50K Units by 2028

Gate News message, April 20 — Terra Industries, Africa’s most-funded defence-technology startup, is building a 34,000-square-foot drone factory in Accra, Ghana, set to become the continent’s largest when operational in June 2026. The facility, named Pax-2, more than doubles the footprint of Terra’s 15,000-square-foot factory in Abuja and targets annual output of 50,000 units by 2028.

The expansion comes as al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates escalate drone warfare across the Sahel. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the al-Qaeda coalition in Mali and Burkina Faso, conducted at least 89 drone operations between 2023 and 2025, while Islamic State Sahel Province struck Niamey International Airport with suicide drones in January 2026. Pax-2 will produce three aerial systems: the Archer VTOL for long-range surveillance and strike operations, the Iroko UAV for rapid tactical deployment, and Kama, a newly announced interceptor drone capable of 300 kilometres per hour designed for counter-drone defence. The facility will create 120 engineering jobs.

Terra raised $34 million across two rounds in 2026, making it the continent’s most-funded defence-tech startup. An $11.75 million round led by 8VC in January was followed by a $22 million round led by Lux Capital with participation from Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola’s Resilience17 Capital. The company protects approximately $11 billion in assets across eight African countries, including hydropower plants, lithium mines and oil facilities. In February, Terra signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation to establish a joint venture for local assembly and training under the DICON Act 2023.