Afrikonet Stategic Initiatives

Drone Solutions to African Maritime
Insecurity
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, as they
are known colloquially, provide a way for African
navies and coast guards to greatly enhance maritime
security in a relatively inexpensive manner, similar to
the ways mobile telephony revolutionized
communications on the continent. Similar to the
evolution of computing power outlined by Moore’s
law tactical UAS are rapidly growing in capabilities
while decreasing in cost. Improvements in sensors,
endurance, and payload are advancing quickly. For
any solution, acquisition cost, maintainability, and
infrastructure required are key factors to be
considered. The cost per flying hour of most UAS is
negligible compared to their manned counterparts.
Today’s fixed and rotary-wing systems, whether
specifically designed for military use or for
commercial applications, can be adapted for
surveillance in a maritime environment without much
additional cost. Because each country has unique
requirements and budgets no single UAS solution is
appropriate.
Maritime drones can be based ashore or on coastal patrol vessels. One
viable option for countries with limited resources involves services
contracted by Western Partners, a model which has already been
proven in the region for other applications. Alternatively, the Yaoundé
Code of Conduct provides a framework for a possible shared model.
This agreement can provide the timely sharing of critical information
ascertained by maritime surveillance and reconnaissance systems to
aid in the enforcement of the maritime laws and agreements in the
region. Contractor-operated drones could be allocated across countries
by leadership in the five Zones delineated by the Code. Multinational
cooperation on maritime security has already been tested in the annual
Oban game Express exercise and during real-world counterpiracy
operations. Understanding that not all countries have the investment
capability to purchase their own stand-alone systems, consideration
could be given to sharing the initial investment costs between
countries. The logistics of system placement and asset availability
would have to be determined by the participating countries themselves
but the benefit of such a program would positively impact the entire
region economically, enhance interoperability, and assist in regional
stability.