In Burkina Faso, Sky Dragon 30 missiles point to China’s military export inroads
Burkina Faso has tested Chinese-made Sky Dragon 30 surface-to-air missiles, signaling a shift in the nation's military procurement away from Western suppliers. Analysts suggest this move is part of an effort to achieve greater defense autonomy and counterterrorism capabilities.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing influence of Chinese military exports in Africa and the geopolitical shift of Sahel nations away from traditional Western security partners.
The West African country of Burkina Faso has tested what observers say is a Chinese Sky Dragon 30 surface-to-air missile, in the latest sign that Chinese military equipment manufacturers are making inroads into the central Sahel state.
In footage released by the Burkinabe president’s office on Tuesday, multiple missiles were fired from a mobile launch vehicle. A matching search radar vehicle also appeared in the video.
The footage is part of a documentary series marking the fourth anniversary in power by Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré.
It did not say when the tests were carried out but this is the first time the landlocked country has shown the short-to-medium range missile system.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army instructor, said that in the past countries such as Burkina Faso had relied heavily on France and the United States.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in