Various defence media report that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has sent Congress an unfunded priorities list totaling more than USD500 million, highlighting the need to counter armed drones in the region as a major priority.
AFRICOM supports African governments by helping build capacity in their armed forces, which are necessary for a government to counter violent extremists and respond to crises.
The priorities list reportedly states that it is “only a matter of time before US forces in East Africa are attacked by enemy drones or missiles”.
AFRICOM joins the US Army and US Central Command, which both included C-UAS systems on their own unfunded priorities list.
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Image: A Ghana Armed Forces soldier retrieves a drone that was used as part of a mock base attack demonstration as part of a culminating exercise during African Lion 2023 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. William Cowley)
