African security tech company Terra Industries has raised new funding to expand its drone manufacturing, open a London office, and scale its autonomous security systems across the Global South.
The funding round included existing investors 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital and SV Angel, alongside new investor Norleo Space Investments and angel investor Grant Gordon.
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Terra will use the capital to establish its first international office in London, expand manufacturing capacity, accelerate deployments across international markets, and grow its engineering, operations and business development teams.
Expanding Autonomous Security Systems Globally
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, Terra develops technology designed to help governments and infrastructure operators monitor and protect critical assets across land, air and maritime environments.
The company's systems are currently deployed at power plants, mines and other critical infrastructure assets valued at approximately $11 billion across several African countries, according to Terra.
The company plans to establish its first international office in London as part of its expansion strategy. Terra said the office will provide access to institutions involved in global defence and infrastructure markets, as well as international operations and AI talent.
The company plans to maintain manufacturing operations in Africa while expanding its commercial footprint across the Gulf, South America and South Asia.
Global Defence and Manufacturing Growth
Nathan Nwachuku, Co-founder and CEO of Terra Industries, said the new funding would allow the company to expand its manufacturing base and increase its participation in global defence markets.
Critical infrastructure across the Global South is best protected by systems designed for these environments and built in the regions they protect, Nwachuku said.
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A major component of Terra's manufacturing expansion is its planned Pax-2 facility in Ghana, which is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility will follow Terra's 15,000-square-foot Pax-1 manufacturing plant in Abuja, Nigeria.
At 34,000 square feet, Pax-2 is expected by Terra to become the largest drone manufacturing facility in Africa once fully operational.
The company projects that the Ghana facility will reach an annual production capacity of 50,000 units across its aerial systems portfolio by 2028.
Proprietary Technology and Regional Strategy
Its portfolio includes long- and mid-range autonomous drones, interceptor drones, sentry towers and unmanned ground vehicles. The company says its technology is designed to address challenges including infrastructure sabotage, illegal mining, organised crime and terrorism.
The systems are connected through ArtemisOS, Terra's proprietary software platform, which provides capabilities including real-time threat detection, autonomous mission planning and coordinated responses across large operating environments.
Terra is positioning the platform as a vertically integrated security technology stack designed around the operational requirements and terrain of markets across the Global South. The company's strategy is centred on developing sovereign security capabilities, with manufacturing based in Africa.
Why Autonomous Security Matters to Africa
Terra's funding comes as African countries seek to strengthen local capabilities in AI, drones, advanced manufacturing and critical-infrastructure security. The planned Ghana facility is particularly significant if Terra achieves its projected production capacity.
Building large-scale drone manufacturing capabilities on the continent could contribute to the development of local engineering and technology expertise. The company's model also reflects a broader shift in African technology: startups are increasingly attempting to build deep-tech hardware businesses around local problems.
The international expansion is equally notable. If successful, that model could position Africa not only as a market for autonomous security technologies but also as a base for manufacturing and exporting advanced technology to other emerging markets.
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