Milkor to double annual production of Africa's largest combat drone.

In an interview with Army Recognition on September 16, 2024, Daniel du Plessis, Marketing and Communications Director of the South African company Milkor, outlined plans to increase the annual production of its Milkor 380 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Responding to growing interest in the Milkor 380, currently the largest UAV produced in Africa and expected to rank among the world's top ten Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs in operational capability, Milkor plans to double its production rate from 8 to 16 units per year by 2026.
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Milkor’s new facility In Cape Town, South Africa, has allowed to increase the 380 production capacity from 8 to 16 units annually. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The development of the Milkor 380 began in 2021, with taxi testing in early 2023 and its first flight on September 19, 2023. To support the program, Milkor recently expanded its facilities in Cape Town, South Africa, by introducing a new 10,000-square-meter building. This expansion is designed to consolidate all previous research and development (R&D) functions and create new areas for offices, production, testing, and subsystem integration.

The Cape Town location offers logistical advantages for the production and development of the UAV due to its proximity to several South African Air Force bases, such as Air Force Base Langebaanweg, Air Force Base Ysterplaat, and Overberg Air Force Base. These bases provide essential infrastructure for pilot training, aircraft operations, and weapons testing. Additionally, Cape Town's infrastructure, including its harbor and international airport, facilitates access to necessary raw materials.

As highlighted in this interview, the new facility has enabled the company to increase its production capacity to 8 units annually, with a potential production capacity of up to 16 units by 2026, aligning with projected future demand.

Milkor has developed several key components of the Milkor 380 internally, including communications, avionics, automation, and control systems. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Milkor has developed several key components of the Milkor 380 in-house, including its communications, avionics, automation, and control systems, as over the past five years, the team has expanded to 350 employees, 80% of whom are engineers.

The Milkor 380 is equipped with dual redundant Line of Sight (LOS) and satellite communication capabilities to enable continuous data exchange over long distances. It is compatible with existing Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems to facilitate real-time data transfer and mission coordination.

The Milkor 380, intended for use in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as for precision strikes, comes equipped with optical systems for high-definition, infrared, and multispectral imaging, which are designed to provide real-time situational awareness and enhance surveillance and reconnaissance effectiveness.

The development of the Milkor 380 began in 2021, with taxi testing in early 2023 and its first flight on September 19, 2023. (Picture source: Milkor)

The adaptable airframe is also equipped with five hardpoints that can carry various payloads, such as sensor pods, electronic warfare systems, glide bombs, precision-guided munitions, and missiles, to suit different mission requirements. For instance, the AeroForce 380, developed in collaboration with the German company Aerodata AG, is a new variant specifically optimized for maritime surveillance and suitable for Navy or Coast Guard monitoring operations.

Incorporating modern technologies such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR), the Milkor 380 features a flight control system capable of autonomous operations, including take-offs, flights, and landings, reducing the need for human involvement in these processes. Additionally, two types of Ground Control Stations (GCS) are available for the Milkor 380: the Strategic GCS (SGCS) for permanent installations and the Tactical GCS (TGCS) for rapid deployment.