ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (BG) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated SkyWin Aeronautics Industries on Saturday, a company that manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles for civilian and military use.

The initiative is part of Ethiopia’s broader push for technological self-reliance, particularly in the security sector.

Abiy announced that Ethiopia now has the capacity to produce and operate drones and export them.

The drones are designed by local young professionals, highlighting Ethiopia’s ambition for homegrown technological advancement.

The facility’s establishment aligns with efforts to enhance the country’s security capabilities through indigenous innovation.

In a social media post, Abiy emphasized the significance of the milestone. “The locally manufactured drones before us were unimaginable just a few years ago,” he wrote.

He highlighted the importance of continued research, market expansion, and local production of smart sensor technologies to sustain progress.

Abiy also addressed the role of drone development in regional security. “We are developing capabilities like these—along with the advancements at Homicho Ammunition Engineering Industry—not to fuel conflict, but to prevent it,” he stated.

He framed Ethiopia’s military advancements as a deterrence strategy, aiming “to secure peace and stability in the face of belligerent actors.”