South Africa’s defence company Milkor is hoping to sell 12 of its new Milkor 380 drone to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is looking to procure drones since fighting resumed with the M23 rebels.
Tshisekedi administration has already bought Chinese CH-4 drones in large numbers, and may be looking at acquiring more.
Specifically engineered for extended Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, the Milkor 380 is designed to accommodate an external payload of 210 kilograms, which includes an assortment of weapons and sensors.
The Milkor 380 drone was one of the main attraction at the last Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, held in Pretoria, South Africa.
Milkor displayed the UAV alongside Al Tariq X-series precision guided munitions, Halcon Desert Sting DS-16 guided bombs, FZ602 laser-guided rocket launchers, and Airborne Technologies’ Self Contained Aerial Reconnaissance (SCAR) Pod.
Milkor has achieved a significant milestone with the inaugural flight of its Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), representing a substantial step forward in the development of its flagship aircraft, which stands as the largest armed UAV originating from Africa.
The Milkor 380 boasts a formidable wingspan of 18.6 meters and an impressive maximum takeoff weight of 1,300 kilograms.
Milkor has designated the first five units of this UAV for South African use, with the first aircraft already undergoing comprehensive testing and evaluation at its expansive 10,000 square meter manufacturing facility located in
Cape Town. This commitment was solidified through a memorandum of understanding signed between Milkor, Armscor, and the South African Air Force at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) expo held in September 2022.