EDEX 2025: Havelsan collaborating with Kader on unmanned systems

The Bozbey UAV displayed as the Hamza 1 at the AOI stand at EDEX 2025. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)

More details were revealed on the unmanned systems that Türkiye's Havelsan is working on with Egypt's Kader Factory for Developed Industries during the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2025 held in Cairo from 1 to 4 December.

It was announced in March that Havelsan had signed an agreement with Kader, which is part of Egypt's state-owned Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and best known as the manufacturer of the Fahd armoured personnel carrier (APC), to jointly produce unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Havelsan announced in August that it had also signed an agreement with AOI to jointly produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

While these announcements did not identify the systems that would be jointly produced, a Havelsan Bozbey UAV was displayed on the AOI stand as the Hamza 1 during EDEX 2025.

The Bozbey is a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing surveillance UAV with a maximum take-off weight of 40 kg when carrying a 15 kg payload.

The Agrab (‘scorpion' in Arabic) UGV displayed on the AOI stand as a joint product with Havelsan superficially looked similar to the Turkish company's 8×8 Kapgan but is a smaller 6×6 vehicle. It was displayed fitted with a Trakon Lite remotely operated weapon station (ROWS) made by Canik Tech, another Turkish company, and armed with a .50 calibre machine gun.

A Havelsan representative told Janes the Agrab had been developed with Kader and can be fitted with the same payloads as the Kapgan even though it is lighter. He said the Agrab and the Bozbey would be produced by both Havelsan and Kader if orders are placed.