Terra Industries Builds Continent’s Biggest Drone Manufacturing Hub

In a move poised to reshape African defence capabilities, Terra Industries—the continent’s most-funded defence-technology startup—is constructing a 34,000-square-foot drone factory in Accra, Ghana. The facility, dubbed Pax-2, is projected to become operational in June 2026 and will significantly expand Terra’s manufacturing footprint beyond its existing base in Nigeria.

The Accra plant represents more than double the size of Terra’s current 15,000-square-foot factory in Abuja. The company aims for an annual production capacity of 50,000 units by 2028—a substantial increase that underscores its ambitions to become a major defence supplier on the continent.

Strategic Response to Escalating Drone Warfare

This expansion comes amid growing concerns about drone threats across Africa’s Sahel region. Al-Qaeda affiliates like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) conducted at least 89 drone operations between 2023 and 2025, while Islamic State Sahel Province targeted Niamey International Airport with suicide drones in January 2026.

According to Nathan Nwachuku, Terra’s co-founder and CEO: “The only way Africa can have lasting peace is by uniting to build sovereign defence, not by relying on foreign security architecture.” He highlighted Ghana’s selection for its skilled workforce and demonstrated commitment to becoming a defence export leader.

Advanced Defence Systems Production

The Pax-2 facility will create 120 engineering jobs and manufacture three of Terra’s aerial systems:

  • Archer VTOL: A long-range surveillance and strike platform
  • Iroko UAV: For rapid tactical deployment
  • Kama Interceptor Drone: New model capable of 300 km/h, designed for counter-drone defence

Funding and Market Positioning

Terra has raised $34 million across two funding rounds in 2026—making it the most well-funded defence-tech startup in Africa. The company’s business model, which combines hardware sales with recurring software fees (similar to US primes like Anduril and Palantir), has already secured contracts protecting roughly $11 billion in assets across eight African countries.

The Ghana expansion aligns with a February agreement between Terra and Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) to establish a joint venture for local assembly and training—integrating Terra into Nigeria’s formal defence manufacturing structure.