On February 3, 2026, the European Union (EU) formally transferred a fleet of 40 specialised vehicles and advanced unmanned aerial systems to the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI). This delivery, conducted in Abidjan under the supervision of Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Téné Birahima Ouattara, represents a tactical expansion of the 15 million Euro assistance measure first established in May 2024. Funded through the European Peace Facility (EPF), the initiative seeks to fortify Côte d'Ivoire's territorial integrity against the southward drift of militant instability from the Sahel region.
In April 2025, the United States and the European Union pledged to reinforce their partnership with the central African country. The European Union (EU) is to support the country's armed forces by way of a 15 million Euro "assistance measure". US Africa Command (Africom) reports its commander, Marine Corps General Michael Langley, accompanied by US Marine Corps Sergeant Major Michael Woods, the Command's senior enlisted leader, met military and civilian leadership of the landlocked country. "Shared commitment" to regional stability and security co-operation were agenda item when the pair met President Alasane Ouattara and Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Lassina Doumbia.
This January, European Union envoy Joao Cravinho announced that European security faces an escalating threat from the expansion of jihadist violence across the Sahel region. A primary concern for the European Union involves unregulated migratory flows originating from this instability. Cravinho noted the necessity of cooperation with coastal nations such as Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Mauritania. These countries serve as critical buffers, hosting thousands of refugees fleeing the violence.
The recent delivery focuses heavily on tactical mobility and logistical recovery, essential components for maintaining a persistent presence in the remote northern border zones. The shipment includes 34 troop carriers designed for rugged terrain, three double-cab pickups for rapid response and command functions, and three Iveco tow trucks. These recovery vehicles are vital for sustaining operations in areas with limited infrastructure, ensuring that mechanical failures or combat damage do not result in the permanent loss of mobile assets.
Minister Ouattara noted during the ceremony that these assets are earmarked for disciplined, effective deployment in regions most vulnerable to asymmetric threats. By providing standardised Ivorian units with modern transport, the FACI can reduce response times to intelligence reports and improve personnel safety during transit through contested environments.
A primary feature of the EPF package is the introduction of sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Central to this is the Atechsys COMET L UAV. DCI through its subsidiary Atechsys, has developed a tactical drone model, the COMET L UAV, which redefines the standard for light tactical drones through autonomy, modularity, and ease of deployment. Offering 7 hours of endurance, a 100 km range, and the ability to carry two sensor types – optical and electromagnetic, it provides outstanding versatility for intelligence and surveillance missions. Compact, rapidly deployable, and featuring a 6-meter wingspan with a maximum payload of 50 kg, the COMET L is a high-performance, adaptable solution built for demanding operational contexts.
Complementing the Atechsys COMET L UAV is the Hexadrone Tundra 2, a French-manufactured multirotor UAV. The Tundra 2 is frequently described as a "tool-carrier" due to its extreme modularity. Its arms and landing gear can be swapped or adjusted to accommodate diverse mission profiles, from heavy-lift logistics to high-density 3D mapping when paired with Yellow Scan sensors. Its integration of 4G/LTE transmission capabilities enables long-range monitoring and real-time data relay to command centres, providing leaders in Abidjan with a live view of border dynamics.
Ivory Coast already operates Delair DT-26 surveillance drones to monitor northern borders. For the past few years, the Ivory Coast has been taking specific measures to protect itself against a spillover of violence from Mali, including reinforcing its borders, as well as acquiring surveillance equipment.
The European Peace Facility Framework
The legal and operational basis for this transfer stems from a Council of the European Union decision on April 29, 2024. This decision tasked Defense Council International (DCI) with implementing the assistance measure. Unlike traditional military aid, the EPF is a "non-lethal" instrument in this context, focusing on protection, surveillance, and logistics rather than the provision of weapons.
The scope of the 15 million Euro package includes: The collection of electromagnetic signals and their integration onto two specialised aircraft, The establishment of a comprehensive UAV training capability to ensure FACI pilots can maintain the equipment, The delivery of militarized multi-purpose land vehicles, and Mandatory training in International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and human rights to ensure that technical gains are matched by professional conduct.
The equipment provided by the EU is specifically tailored to monitor these permeable boundaries.
This assistance measure demonstrates a shift in EU foreign policy toward providing tangible hardware and technical training to regional partners. By equipping the FACI with quiet, resilient UAVs and robust ground transport, the EU is attempting to create a "buffer of stability" in West Africa. The emphasis on ISR suggests that the FACI is moving toward an intelligence-led defence posture, using data from the DT46 and Tundra 2 to preempt threats before they reach civilian population centres.
As these systems enter active service, the durability of the Delair and Hexadrone platforms in the humid, tropical environment of southern Côte d'Ivoire and the arid conditions of the north will provide a practical test of European tactical hardware in African theatres. The success of this mission will depend not just on the 40 vehicles delivered in February, but on the long-term maintenance and training frameworks established by DCI.
On April 20 2024, the Ivorian Air Force (Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire (FACI)) took delivery of the first of two new Beechcraft B300 King Air 360. Both aircraft were ordered last year by the Forces Armées de Côte d'Ivoire (FACI). The Beechcraft B300 King Air 360 arrived in Abidjan. German aeronautical engineering company Aerodata integrated its cutting-edge ISR technologies onto the two Beechcraft King Air aircraft in Braunschweig.
