U.S.-based Textron to supply Aerosonde Mk 4.7 intelligence drones to Nigeria’s Tantita Security.

Textron Systems has signed a contract to deliver three fully ITAR-free Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL uncrewed aircraft systems to Tantita Security Services in Nigeria. The deal underscores growing demand for exportable U.S.-designed UAS and highlights the expanding role of private security firms in protecting critical infrastructure across West Africa.

U.S.-based Textron Systems Corporation announced on December 29, 2025, that it has secured a contract to provide three ITAR-free Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft systems to Tantita Security Services, a private security provider operating in Nigeria. According to the company, the delivery strengthens Textron’s international uncrewed aircraft footprint and supports intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions related to energy infrastructure protection in the Niger Delta region.
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The Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 is a hybrid VTOL Vertical TakeOff and Landing uncrewed aircraft system combining quadrotor lift with fixed-wing endurance, designed for long-range ISR missions in remote or confined environments without the need for runways.(Picture source: Textron Systems)

The Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aerial drone will be delivered in a configuration specifically engineered for unrestricted export, tailored to meet the security requirements of international customers operating outside U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) frameworks.

Tantita Security Services, a rapidly emerging private security provider with a mandate to support Nigerian state authorities in protecting vital oil and gas infrastructure, will integrate the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 UAS into its aerial surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations. The Niger Delta region, where Tantita operates, is one of the most complex and volatile areas in Africa, plagued by organized oil theft, pipeline sabotage, illegal refining, and transnational smuggling networks. With Nigeria losing billions of dollars annually to oil-related crimes, the introduction of long-endurance aerial ISR platforms reflects a strategic response to threats that undermine national revenue and energy security.

Textron’s contract includes three Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 aerial drones and provides options for future expansion, including additional units and full-spectrum operator and maintenance training. This move aligns with a wider Nigerian effort to modernize its surveillance capabilities, increase situational awareness in remote regions, and reduce reliance on conventional manned patrols.

The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 represents the latest variant of Textron’s battle-proven Aerosonde UAS family. This platform features a hybrid configuration that integrates a quadrotor VTOL system with a fixed-wing airframe, enabling vertical takeoff and landing from confined or unimproved sites without launch rails or recovery equipment. The aircraft is powered by a combination of electric lift motors and a gasoline engine for cruise, providing a balance between hover capability and extended-range performance.

With a wingspan of 4.1 m and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 45.4 kg, the Mk. 4.7 supports a payload capacity of 9.1 kg, enabling integration of advanced sensor suites tailored to ISR and communications roles. The system offers an operational endurance of over 12 h and can conduct missions at distances exceeding 140 km (LOS), with SATCOM options available for BLOS (beyond line-of-sight) missions. This endurance and range make the Mk. 4.7 is particularly suited for persistent monitoring of large geographic areas, such as oil pipelines, riverine routes, and coastal zones.

Payload versatility is central to the platform’s mission adaptability. The UAS can carry electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, automatic identification system (AIS) receivers for maritime tracking, and communications relay packages. All systems are modular and can be rapidly swapped in the field as operational requirements change. The UAS is also capable of autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments and supports real-time data dissemination via secure ground control stations.

With more than 700,000 h of operational flight logged across multiple environments, including shipboard deployments on over 10 U.S. Navy vessels, the Aerosonde family is one of the most field-tested tactical UAS solutions in service today. Its proven reliability in desert, maritime, and jungle conditions underpins its appeal for operators like Tantita, who must contend with extreme climate variability and hostile terrain.

Unlike previous Nigerian acquisitions of U.S. defense technology conducted through FMS channels, this latest transaction is structured outside of direct U.S. government oversight. Textron’s delivery of an ITAR-free variant reflects an evolving defense export strategy that favors compliance-aware system configurations. By removing ITAR-restricted components and developing a commercially licensable configuration, Textron has unlocked faster delivery timelines and greater flexibility for foreign partners. This approach also enhances end-user autonomy by reducing political constraints and dependency on U.S. end-use monitoring.

The Mk. 4.7’s ability to operate from temporary sites with minimal logistical support makes it ideal for Nigeria’s remote southern corridors, where access is limited, and conventional infrastructure is lacking. Its missions for Tantita will likely include long-range pipeline surveillance, detection of illegal tapping points, monitoring of vessel movements in inland waterways, support for ground interdiction forces, and aerial reconnaissance of illegal refining camps.

This deal builds upon a previous FMS-based introduction of the Aerosonde platform to Nigeria, but the current contract signals a shift toward flexible, private-sector integration of ISR capabilities. It also reflects a growing demand for autonomous solutions in the commercial and quasi-military domains of critical infrastructure protection, particularly in regions where conventional military capacity is overstretched.

As the global UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) export landscape becomes increasingly competitive, Textron’s focus on modularity, compliance, and mission flexibility positions the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 as a leading solution for non-traditional security operators, including private security forces, energy companies, and border enforcement agencies. Nigeria’s selection of this platform marks a broader trend among African and Middle Eastern nations seeking high-end ISR tools that are both effective and free from geopolitical entanglements.

Exclusive technical diagrams and imagery of the Mk. 4.7 VTOL in ISR configuration, acquired by Army Recognition, will be featured in our upcoming defense technology spotlight. The feature will include analysis of its avionics architecture, payload integration options, and deployment profiles adapted for West African theaters of operation.

Textron’s contract with Nigerian Company Tantita Security Services not only reinforces the company’s global reach but also highlights how U.S. defense manufacturers are reconfiguring their platforms to serve evolving non-state and hybrid security customers in an era defined by infrastructure warfare and asymmetric threat environments.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.