Denel ‘helping Saudi Arabia develop drones’
THE state-owned manufacturers of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Denel Dynamics, this week defended the sale of its technology to countries approved by the United Nations and the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, amid claims that it was co-operating with Saudi Arabia to develop drones that can carry missiles.
While the US has refused to sell Saudi Arabia drones, partly due to that country’s poor human rights record, the South African National Conventional Arms Control Committee has not blacklisted the Saudis, making it legitimate for Denel to sell weapons to that country.
It was recently reported on Intelligence Online that Denel was “helping” Saudi Arabia “conduct its own secret national drone programme”.
This meant that Denel was not necessarily selling Saudis unarmed drones for surveillance purposes, but could be sharing the technology and expertise with Saudi Arabia to develop its own UAV industry, which could include the production of armed drones.
Pam Malinda, acting group communications manager at Denel, said Denel’s position on client confidentiality included all the products and services produced and delivered by the company.
“Denel is therefore not in a position to comment on any sales to clients without their express consent.”
Denel Dynamics is the largest manufacturer of drones in Africa and has been making drones and other unmanned aerial systems since the 1980s. The company makes four different drones for commercial and military markets.
Denel Dynamics’ most sophisticated drone is the Seeker 400 that the Saudi military is believed to be interested in building. Denel markets the drone for surveillance use. However, Intelligence Online has reported that the Saudis want theirs to have the capability of carrying
Denel’s most sophisticated drone is the Seeker 400 that the Saudi military is believed to be interested in building. Denel markets the drone for surveillance use
missiles such as Denel Dynamics’Mokopa or Impi.
Tsepo Monaheng, deputy CEO of Denel Dynamics, told Forbes Africa recently that the company was not considering entering the market in North America, but saw some possibilities in Europe. The company has clients in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and South America, especially Brazil.
The company also markets products through interactions and negotiations with prospective clients, and has participated in international defence exhibitions around the world.
“None of our drones carry weapons at the moment, but the system can be customised for different client requirements,” Mr Monaheng said. This makes SA a potential player in the game of international drone warfare.
Nonmilitary uses of drones include livestock monitoring, wildfire mapping, pipeline security, road patrol and antipiracy. The drones are also used by the police and the South African National Defence Force for surveillance in the fight against rhino poaching at South African national parks.
The drones have the ability to courier information, blood samples, and data of all kinds. There are also a growing number of civil applications, such as policing and fire fighting, and the Japanese government has used drones to monitor radiation levels at its Fukushima nuclear plant that was hit by an earthquake in 2011.