Terra Industries raises $52 million as Nigerian defense startup expands to Ghana

Terra Industries is putting more money behind its push to build defense technology in Africa, raising another $18 million as the Nigerian startup prepares to open a large drone manufacturing plant in Ghana. 

The new funding takes Terra’s total seed financing to $52 million and comes at a time when the company is moving from building its business in Nigeria to establishing a larger manufacturing operation elsewhere in Africa.

Its next major project is the Pax-2 factory in Ghana, which is expected to open in the fourth quarter. 

The 34,000-square-foot facility could become one of the continent’s biggest drone manufacturing sites when it begins operations. Terra plans to use the plant to increase production of its aerial systems while keeping its original manufacturing base in Abuja. 

The company is also setting up its first international office in London, giving it a base from which to pursue customers and partnerships outside Africa. The expansion reflects Terra’s broader plan to sell its systems in markets across the Global South.

Ghana factory expands Terra’s production 

Pax-2 is designed to produce as many as 50,000 aerial systems a year by 2028, according to Terra. That is a planned capacity target, not its current output. The factory is more than twice the size of Terra’s 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja. 

The latest financing follows Terra’s $34 million funding level announced earlier this year.

The company said the new money will support manufacturing, engineering, operations and business development as it expands deployments across Africa and other markets in the Global South.

Startup targets wider international market 

Terra’s London office will give the company a base outside Africa as it looks to expand into the Gulf, South America and South Asia.

The company plans to keep its manufacturing operations in Africa while pursuing customers and partnerships abroad. 

The expansion comes as African governments and infrastructure operators seek more locally developed security technology.

Terra says its systems are already used to protect power plants, mines and other critical infrastructure assets valued at about $11 billion across several African countries.

Terra builds autonomous defense systems 

Terra Industries was founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka.

The company develops autonomous aerial, land and maritime systems, including drones, interceptor drones, surveillance towers and unmanned ground vehicles.

Its product range also includes the Archer VTOL, Iroko UAV, Duma unmanned ground vehicle and Kallon autonomous sentry system. 

For Terra, the immediate priority is getting Pax-2 into operation and increasing production.

If the factory reaches its planned 50,000-system annual capacity by 2028, Ghana will become an important part of the company’s manufacturing plans as it seeks to sell its defense technology beyond Nigeria.