Cairo: Aqrab and Hamza-1, innovative unmanned platforms developed through a collaboration between the Turkish defense company Havelsan and Egypt, made their debut at the EDEX 2025 Egypt Defense Fair.

According to Anadolu Agency, Havelsan showcased its software-based solutions and technology products at the Cairo event, engaging in discussions with delegations from various participating countries. The Aqrab and Hamza-1, produced in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), garnered significant attention from attendees.

During the fair, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited the exhibition and received information about the new vehicles. The Hamza-1, a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle, was one of the highlights of the event, presented at the AOI booth as a novel collaborative effort.

The Aqrab, an unmanned ground vehicle, was developed as a 6x6 platform equipped with a remote-controlled weapon system, marking a significant innovation in Egypt's defense capabilities. Sevket Unal, vice president of international business development and marketing at Havelsan, explained to Anadolu that Aqrab was specifically designed for Egypt's desert conditions.

Unal also mentioned that the Hamza-1 platform was developed alongside Aqrab, aligned with advancements in autonomous systems. He revealed plans for field demonstrations to gather user feedback, which would guide further development and preparation of the vehicles for operational use.

Highlighting Havelsan's contribution to the projects, Unal pointed out the company's strengths in command-and-control, artificial intelligence, and autonomy. He emphasized Egypt's strategic importance as a gateway to Africa and anticipated that the products developed could be offered to other countries in the region.

Unal added that during the fair, Havelsan engaged with participants from Egypt, various African nations, and the Gulf region to discuss its capabilities in air, land, sea, and simulation systems.