How imported rockets, aborted national programs, and external control have shaped the continent’s arsenals
Missile development in Africa has traditionally been driven by the necessity to procure missiles for military forces; the development of national missile programs has been of secondary importance for most African countries.
Despite this, under various regimes, certain nations have considered developing their own missile capabilities and even creating a “wonder-weapon” that would allow them to assume a dominant role in the region. In addition to South Africa, countries including Egypt, Libya, and Algeria have harbored such ambitions at different times.
When it comes to missile supplies, the Soviet Union played a significant role in the militarization of Africa. During the height of Africa’s national liberation movements – many of which were ideologically aligned with socialism – the USSR provided a wide range of weaponry, including missile systems. These became some of the most potent tools for the continent’s “new democracies.”
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the resulting “missile vacuum” didn’t last long. Some African countries remained traditional partners of the Soviet military-industrial complex and shifted their focus to Russian military equipment, while others drastically changed suppliers. Today, China has emerged as a key player in the African military market; some countries have also turned to American missile technology. However, the US does not supply long-range missiles, creating space for another exporter that faces no restrictions: North Korea.
Egypt’s missile programs
Egypt was one of the few African countries with an active national missile program. Following its defeat in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the Suez Crisis of 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser sought to develop a domestic nuclear missile shield. Egypt’s primary goal was to develop military capabilities that would be independent from external influence and that would benefit the entire Arab East.
Egypt initiated its missile program by inviting in German scientists with experience in developing V-2 rockets. This collaboration led to several missile prototypes and future project demonstrations. On July 23, 1962, during a parade celebrating the 10th anniversary of the revolution, Egypt showcased its domestically produced missiles in Cairo. There were several projects focused on liquid-fueled missiles, including the Al-Kaher missile with a range of up to 600 km, the Al-Zafir missile with a range of 375 km, and the proposed Al-Raid missile, projected to have a range of 1,000 km.
Simultaneously, efforts to develop nuclear weapons were underway. Likely due to the influence of the Soviet Union and other external factors, these programs were curtailed after Nasser’s death. The USSR then offered its 9К72 SCUD missile systems to Egypt.
In 1971, in order to equip two missile brigades, the Soviet Union began supplying 9K72E missile systems mounted on MAZ-543 self-propelled launchers to Egypt. By the time of the next Arab-Israeli conflict in 1973, Egypt had already acquired nine launchers and 18 missiles. During the hostilities in October 1973, the first three launches were executed against targets on the Sinai Peninsula, marking the first combat use of the SCUD missile system.
In 1979, several SCUD missiles were transferred to North Korea, and there were likely discussions about jointly improving these weapons. This collaboration resulted in the Condor missile program, initiated in the late 1980s. Its goal was to enhance the range of SCUD-type missiles beyond 500 km. The program involved North Korea, Iraq, and Argentina, but by 1993, Argentina and presumably Egypt withdrew from the initiative. Nevertheless, Iraq’s partnership with North Korea continued until the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Today, the Egyptian armed forces still operate 9K72E missile systems equipped with SCUD missiles. While some of them may be original Soviet-produced missiles, most are likely upgraded North Korean versions delivered in the early 2000s. They have a range of up to 300 km and compared to modern missiles, take a long time to prepare for launch. However, they remain a formidable sight during military parades!
Libya’s missile ambitions
During the 1970s, Libya embarked on a path toward socialism under the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi, who established the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. By 1977, the country had received several brigades of 9K72E missile systems, boasting 72 launchers and about 200-300 missiles – quite a formidable arsenal for that era. Gaddafi likely harbored ambitions for expansion to the south, yet the extensive deployment of this missile stockpile never came to fruition.
Nevertheless, during confrontations with the United States, Libya launched missile strikes against an American base on the island of Lampedusa in Italy. On April 14, 1986, the missiles missed their target and fell into the sea. Concurrently, Libya initiated modernization programs in collaboration with North Korea and Iran. As demand grew, Gaddafi reportedly requested new missile systems from the USSR, specifically solid-fueled Temp-S systems with a range of up to 900 km. However, times changed; the USSR began cutting back on missile production, and the US and its allies became increasingly concerned about the proliferation of missile technology. Consequently, Libya’s missile program was dismantled in the 1990s and early 2000s in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions.
Algeria
Algeria also eventually broke free from colonial rule and began its journey towards independence. However, apparently Algeria didn’t openly embrace a socialist agenda during this transition. Soviet missiles were not supplied to the country, but other Soviet military equipment found its way into Algeria, including submarines, aircraft, and various weapon systems.
In the ‘00s, Algeria became increasingly interested in acquiring modern missile systems and purchased the Russian 9K720E Iskander-E missile system (the “E” stands for the export variant of the missile).
Between 2014 and 2018, Algeria received 12 of these systems; each system included a self-propelled launcher, a transport-loader vehicle, and a command vehicle for mission preparation (one per battery). Each launcher comes with four missiles, not counting the reserves that may be stored in warehouses. 9M723 ballistic missiles used with the system have a range of 280 km. The system can also deploy cruise missiles, such as 9M728E missiles with a range of up to 300 km. While these missiles could potentially have a greater range, the 300 km limit aligns with international non-proliferation regulations.
Today, Algeria stands out as the only country in Africa and the Arab East equipped with the advanced Iskander missile system. This capability significantly alters the balance of power in North Africa. In addition to Russian systems, Algeria has also acquired Chinese multi-role DF-12A systems which can launch both short-range ballistic missiles like the SY-400 and anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-12B for coastal defense. Overall, this modern missile infrastructure effectively secures the nation’s coastal waters.
In the 1980s, South Africa was arguably the most technologically advanced nation in the southern part of the continent. The country developed its own aircraft, armored vehicles, nuclear weapons, and missiles.
South Africa’s missile program gained traction in collaboration with Israel in the 1970s-1980s. Since the mid-1960s, South Africa had been actively working on developing an atomic bomb, making it a valuable partner for Israel, which was willing to share missile technology in return. Two research reactors, SAFARI-1 (1965) and SAFARI-2 (1967), were constructed to work with plutonium and uranium. In 1979, the so-called Vela Incident occurred – which was likely an explosion of a nuclear weapon developed by South Africa. By the 1980s, South Africa had tested its first ballistic missiles – the RSA-3 – which featured a range of up to 1,000 km. The missiles incorporated Israeli technology from the Shavit and Jericho missile programs.
However, by the early 1990s, following a change in government and the end of apartheid, South Africa officially dismantled its missile program and adopted non-nuclear status, relinquishing its nuclear arsenal.
Other countries in Africa
When it comes to other countries on the African continent, their missile capabilities are largely limited to multiple launch rocket systems and ground-based or air-launched missiles. Aerial drones are increasingly gaining traction even in developed nations, which see them as an alternative to precision-guided missile technology. Drones offer greater versatility and are generally more affordable. As a result, it seems that today only a few wealthy nations can afford traditional long-range missile systems.