The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire have confirmed that the country has acquired Chinese-made Wing Loong II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), marking a significant addition to its growing unmanned aviation capability.
The acquisition was first revealed on 7 August during a military parade commemorating Côte d’Ivoire’s independence anniversary. The country’s armed forces subsequently confirmed the purchase on 10 August, releasing footage showing two Wing Loong II UAVs.
The aircraft are reportedly located at Bouaké Airbase in central Côte d’Ivoire. The footage provides the clearest confirmation to date that the Ivorian armed forces have brought the Chinese-developed UAV into their inventory.
One of the UAVs shown in the footage was fitted with a central-mounted pod resembling an electronic warfare (EW) or electronic intelligence (ELINT) container. The configuration appears similar to a pod demonstrated by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) alongside its new Wing Loong X UAV at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025.
The presence of the pod could indicate that Côte d’Ivoire’s Wing Loong II fleet may have capabilities extending beyond conventional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. However, the exact function and configuration of the pod fitted to the Ivorian aircraft have not been officially confirmed.
The Wing Loong II is designed as a long-endurance unmanned platform capable of conducting persistent surveillance missions and carrying a range of mission equipment. Its acquisition provides Côte d’Ivoire with an expanded ability to conduct aerial reconnaissance and monitor areas of interest over extended periods.
The confirmation of the aircraft also highlights the growing use of Chinese unmanned systems by African armed forces as countries seek to expand their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and develop more persistent aerial monitoring capabilities.
The full operational status of Côte d’Ivoire’s Wing Loong II fleet, including the number of aircraft acquired and the specific sensors and weapons integrated onto the platforms, remains unclear.
