The South African Army is preparing to roll out a new generation of drones to strengthen border security.
This is part of government’s R700 million budget for border safeguarding technology. R40 million of this is expected to fund the unmanned aircraft.
Gearing up for new tech
The South African Army is expanding its drone fleet as part of a broader push to modernise border security. More specifically, they want to outmatch organised crime syndicates operating along the country’s borders.
The new unmanned aircraft will come from two suppliers: Cape Town-based AutonoSky and China’s Autel Robotics, writes DefenceWeb.
AutonoSky – a fast-growing local drone manufacturer founded in 2020 – is providing multi-rotor and soon-to-launch fixed-wing drones designed specifically for security, rescue and surveillance work.
Its heavy-lift Autono1 drone, built in South Africa, can carry up to 30 kg and stay airborne for an hour. The company is also developing a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing drone that can handle long-range missions, border patrols and conservation work.
A smaller tactical drone, the foldable A22 Manqoba, will support rapid-response operations with cameras, spotlights and other smart sensors.
Autel Robotics will supply additional multi-rotor drones and fixed-wing aircraft with a wingspan of roughly three metres. Some of these models can fly for up to three hours and cover distances of up to 45 km.
The SA Army says it is currently assessing each land border’s specific needs before deployment. The new drones will replace or supplement smaller units currently used at the Kruger National Park and in peacekeeping missions.
R40 million budgeted for new drones
This technology overhaul forms part of Treasury’s R700 million budget for border-safeguarding systems. Of this, R16 million is going toward 16 quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles, while R24 million will pay for long-range UAVs.
Lieutenant Colonel W. Booysen from the SA Army’s Tactical Intelligence Regiment said drone demand is growing rapidly across the force – from disaster response to event security.
With criminal groups increasingly using their own drone tech along the borders, he said the army needs systems that can “outmatch what syndicates are flying.”
While Defence Intelligence operates the larger Seeker 400 units from Denel, these are mainly used for national security.
The arrival of the new drone fleet is expected to significantly boost the army’s ability to monitor remote terrain, respond quickly to incidents, and clamp down on cross-border crime.
