The South African Army is preparing to take delivery of new fixed and rotary wing drones for, amongst others, border protection duties.
The new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be acquired from Cape Town-based AutonoSky and China’s Autel Robotics. AutonoSky was founded in 2020 to drive the innovation of aerial systems to assist rescue, fire and security organisations in their operations. It develops complete aircraft, electronics, and AI-driven software in-house. It supplies drones, payloads, and training across defence, logistics, and industrial sectors. AutonoSky manufactures the Autono1 heavy-lift multi-rotor UAV – this has a maximum payload of 30 kg and a flight time of up to 60 minutes. This UAV is locally manufactured and has been integrated with multiple specialised payloads, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research K-Line fire detection sensor and advanced electro-optical systems.
AutonoSky is also expanding its portfolio to include a new class of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing platforms based on South African-owned intellectual property. This will feature modular payload architecture, enabling EO/IR, communications relay, and specialised sensors. “The VTOL platform is being developed with a strong focus on supporting defence, border security, conservation, and humanitarian logistics, giving South Africa a homegrown option in a category traditionally dominated by foreign suppliers,” AutonoSky said.
Complementing this, AutonoSky has introduced the A22 Manqoba — a tactical, foldable multi-rotor UAV purpose-built for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), border security, and rapid-response missions. The A22 provides a 6–8 kg tactical payload capacity, which can include EO/IR sensors, spotlight, loudhailer, and K-Line sensor.
“Together, the A22 and upcoming VTOL platform form part of AutonoSky’s broader strategic roadmap to deliver a complete, locally produced unmanned capability stack – covering heavy-lift, tactical, and long-range missions across the SANDF’s operational spectrum,” the company said.
Autel Robotics, established in 2014, offers a range of quadcopter UAVs, as well as the Dragonfish series of fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing UAVs. This has up to 180 minutes of flight time, a range of up to 45 km, and ability to carry electro-optical/infrared sensors.
The SA Army is acquiring both multi-rotor UAVs and fixed wing aircraft with a wingspan of three metres. Procurement includes training, support and maintenance. The SA Army is currently busy analysing specific requirements of each of its land borders before deploying the aircraft for border security.
In 2023, National Treasury allocated that R700 million for border safeguarding technology in 2024/5 and 2025/26. R500 million has been budgeted for border patrol vehicle replacement while R200 million worth of sensor technology will be acquired for Operation Corona border protection in 2025/6 including a geographic information system (GIS) capability (R22.5 million); intelligence collection and processing capabilities (R47 million under Project Baobab); upgraded Chaka command and control system (R7.2 million); Reutech RSR 903 radars (R57 million); 60 observation posts (R16 million under Project Dominate); 16 quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles (R16 million) as well as long-range UAVs (R24 million).
At the moment the SA Army mainly uses small multi-rotor drones like the DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Matrice etc. These are deployed along the border lines, in the Kruger National Park, and on international deployments, amongst others – for example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), drones are used for base protection and route reconnaissance.
Officer Commanding 1 Tactical Intelligence Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel W Booysen, speaking to the media during Exercise Vuk’uhlome 2025, said drones are in huge demand from Army units, whether it is for disaster response efforts, border security, or functions and events.
The organised crime networks on the borders, particularly those operating along the Mozambique and Zimbabwe borders – have drones, he said. “We need to have better tech than that,” Booysen told DefenceWeb.
Defence Intelligence (DI) has acquired Seeker 400 UAVs from Denel but these are not believed to be used for border security or on deployments. They are intended more for national security efforts rather than tactical intelligence. Defence Intelligence took delivery of the first Seeker 400 in late 2015, although operational testing and evaluation was still underway in 2019 ahead of the type being granted full military type certification.
