SA company takes biggest drone in Africa to test-flight stage

Less than four years after private South African aerospace and defence company Milkor started development of what would be the biggest drone yet built in Africa, the Milkor 380 took to the skies for the first time about a month ago.

Regular test flights are now being undertaken at the military testing grounds in the Overberg in the Western Cape.

Milkor, a company with more than 500 employees, 80% of whom are engineers, hopes to have four of these drones, complete with communication and control systems, ready for the market by the end of the year.

SA well-positioned

South Africa is one of about 10 countries with the capability to build drones of this size for military applications, says Niel du Plessis, head of business development at Milkor.

He says the company is extremely proud of reaching this milestone in a relatively short time and ascribes it to the ability of the company to bring together the right team to single-mindedly develop and integrate all the different components of such a complex project.

Many of the engineers working on the project are still in their 20s and work side-by-side with experienced mentors.

The development of the Milkor 380 was done in South Africa, and most of the manufacturing is done at the Milkor plants in Cape Town.

The drone has a wingspan of 18.6m and is able to fly non-stop for 35 hours. It has a reach of 2 000km at a maximum height of 9 000m.

A team of three, usually a pilot, payload operator and commander, control it from the ground.

It is fitted with high resolution infrared cameras and is ideal for day and night observation. It can zoom in if the operator wants a clearer view of anything, and the information is sent to the control room right away.

Size counts

Du Plessis says size does count with drones, as it determines the equipment the aircraft can carry.

“Some of the sensors are heavy. A bigger aircraft can carry more sensors and even weapons.”

The Milkor 380 can be used for observation, gathering of intelligence, reconnaissance and attack.

Applications include border control, conservation, combatting poaching on land and at sea, and securing assets at sea like oil and gas rigs.

It is being marketed as a complete system that includes the unmanned aircraft, control room, maintenance programme, logistical support regarding spares and fuel, as well as training of up to a year for the operators and infrastructure for land-based and satellite communication.

The company does not disclose the price tag, which is also dependent on the specifications of every client, but Du Plessis says it will be hundreds of millions of rands.

Milkor is in negotiations with prospective buyers and the latest milestone will definitely strengthen the offering, he says.

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The Milkor 380 will also be available to the South African National Defence Force, depending on the results of highly regulated tests done in conjunction with the South African Air Force.

Du Plessis says the components and systems developed in a project of this magnitude have numerous other applications which makes it a catalyst for technological development.

The Milkor 380 at a glance

Wingspan 18.6m

Length 9m

Maximum reach 2 000km

Maximum height 9 000km

Operating height 7 000m

Endurance 35 hours non-stop

Maximum load 210kg

Maximum speed 250km/h

Operating speed 110-150km/h