The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is developing a low-cost target drone for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to replace older systems and respond to modern air defence artillery training requirements.
The drone is being developed under Project Swift. According to Tshegofatso Teane, Senior Project Manager and Adrian Niken, Principal Researcher: Aerospace Systems at the CSIR, the project is divided into three phases, with the first being a technology demonstrator. Later this year advanced development models will be operated by the CSIR and the SANDF, possibly flying at Exercise Vukuhlome in November. This phased approach allows better user involvement and development flexibility. Once test flights are done, production can then take place for the SANDF, which is providing some funding for the project along with the CSIR.
A commercial off the shelf (COTS) electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone was used to demonstrate the concept to the SANDF during the SA Army’s Exercise Vukuhlome in November 2025. This was the Swan tail sitter fixed wing drone, sourced from an international manufacturer.
Kevin Jamison, Head Engineer: Aerospace Systems at the CSIR, explained that using an electric VTOL platform reduces the system’s logistics footprint as the drone can launch from anywhere and requires a smaller team than an internal combustion rail-launched and parachute landing system: only one vehicle and a pilot and drone technician are needed. At Vukuhlome 2025, the Swan target drone was launched directly at the exercise area, something that would have been difficult with an older system like LOCATS, which requires a dedicated rail-based launch unit.
Jamison told DefenceWeb that the SANDF encountered rebels using small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to drop grenades in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so the new target drone will expand threat simulation capabilities to train against those and other threats like drone swarming and saturation. Addressing these new threats will be part of Swift development.
The production Swift target drone will be larger than the Swan demonstrator, and will have a three metre wingspan. It will be designed to be manufactured in significant numbers at low cost and use new manufacturing techniques like 3D printing.
The SANDF has for years used the Denel LOCATS (Low Cost Aerial Target System) to train Air Defence Artillery crews. The 3.2 metre wingspan LOCATS is launched from a ramp typically fitted to the back of a truck and recovered by parachute. It can reach a maximum speed of 310 km/h.
Development of the propeller-powered LOCATS began in 1989, with introduction into service by 1991. The target drone has successfully been flown for various types of gunnery practice, missile development tests, and missile practice firings.
Denel also produced the Skua turbojet-engined drone to simulate fast-moving targets during surface-to-air and air-to-air training exercises. The Department of Defence has no more target drones left to qualify missiles and provide targets for force preparation exercises, and is consequently developing a high-speed target drone demonstrator under Project Loki. This was unveiled by Denel Dynamics at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2022 exhibition. It weighs 180 kg, has a wingspan of 2.45 metres and length of 3.2 metres. It has an endurance of 45-70 minutes depending on flight profile and is powered by two TJ40-G1 turbojet engines developing 40 kg of thrust each, giving a top speed of 630 km/h and a maximum altitude of 8 000 metres with 38 kg payload.
