The manufacturing of modern weaponry in Ethiopia was started in the 19th century during the era of Emperor Tewodros II.
Historical records show Emperor Tewodros built a huge mortar called Sebastopol in 1868, in Begemder (or Gondar) province at a village named Gafat, and took it to the mountain of Maqdala.
Later, under the reign of Emperor Menelik II, an ammunition factory was established in 1911, which started producing cartridges for Wejigra and Wechefor rifles.
[1] The basis for modern defense industry was laid with the establishment of the then Emperor Haile Selassie ammunition factory in 1953 with the cooperation of Czechoslovakia.
[2] While the number of military production facilities grew, the structure remained unchanged until 2004 when a new body Defense Industry Coordinating Office was created to administer all factories, including those under the Ethiopian National Defense Force.