Latest news with #DanielduPlessis
eNCA
17-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
UAV takes surveillance to new heights
JOHANNESBURG - A South African company's excellence has led to the development of a leading unmanned aircraft. It's poised to enhance border surveillance and security operations. The Milkor 380 UAV, developed by defence company Milkor, is ideal for remote areas and dense terrain. According to Milkor's Daniel du Plessis, South Africa is one of the top 10 countries in terms of intellectual property and skill development for UAVs of that scale.
Daily Maverick
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Maverick
SA military manufacturer pivots to Kia partnership to cover loss of iconic Toyota V8
Milkor has relied on Toyota's robust Land Cruiser 79 series chassis for its Frontier border patrol vehicles, but Toyota's decision to discontinue the V8 powertrain has forced SA's premier private military contractor to seek alternatives. Kia has offered the South African private military manufacturer Milkor its Tasman platform on which to build its border patrol vehicles when the Toyota Land Cruiser-based Frontier 4×4 project runs out of engines. Milkor has relied on Toyota's robust Land Cruiser 79 series chassis since its inception, but Toyota's decision to discontinue the V8 powertrain has forced SA's premier private military contractor to seek alternatives. 'The 79 series obviously is moving away from the 4.5 V8, moving to a 2.8 diesel,' explained Daniel du Plessis, Milkor's marketing and communications director. While the smaller 2.8-litre diesel engine might suffice for standard 4×4 configurations, it creates significant challenges for more advanced applications. 'In the 6×6 configuration, it makes it extremely difficult because you have an automatic gearbox now, which is very difficult to have a through shaft for the external for the third axle,' said Du Plessis. Toyota's V8 sunset timeline Toyota's plans to discontinue the venerable 4.5-litre turbodiesel V8 engine, which has powered the Land Cruiser 70 Series for 18 years, began with the 76 Series wagon in August 2024, and will be followed by the single- and double-cab 79 Series (the Frontier base) models in August 2025. In its place will be a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel, already used in the Hilux and Land Cruiser Prado. This is to bring these mighty steeds in line with stricter emissions standards and changing market demands. Despite the imminent change, Du Plessis said the current Land Cruiser-based operations were secure in the short term. 'Our engagement with Toyota directly was that we don't need to worry about it for now,' he said. 'At least for the next two years, we will most likely continue using this. But the obvious alternative is the Kia in the near future.' Kia Tasman to the rescue The Kia Tasman, a rugged new pickup with a face only a devout bakkie fanatic would love, was unveiled in military trim earlier this year at Idex 2025 in Abu Dhabi and has emerged as Milkor's chosen replacement platform. The partnership was initiated by Kia's military division, based in South Korea. 'They approached us essentially to co-develop the system, and we proposed this platform. So, we'll do the first prototype development of that quite soon,' said Du Plessis. The Tasman appears well-suited to Milkor's needs, requiring minimal modifications to serve as the basis for the Frontier. 'The Tasman essentially will be the undercarriage. There are no real upgrades needed to it. It's actually a very rugged vehicle,' said Du Plessis. 'Might be some suspension issues and components which we'll need to change, but essentially getting a stock-standard Kia Tasman chassis with a few modifications, and then we just pop the same body on to it. 'The engine is actually quite powerful. It's also produced by Kia themselves, so also a diesel engine.' The powertrain in question is most likely from the long-serving Hyundai R family of 2.2-litre common rail diesel, which has been the beating heart of flagship Kias since its Korean sibling rescued it from bankruptcy in 1998. Worthy successor? The Tasman, Kia's first serious entry into the bakkie market, appears to possess the capabilities necessary for specialised applications. The military variant features a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine in a 150kW and 441Nm of torque state of tune, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It can carry a payload of up to 1.1 tonnes and tow trailers weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. With 252mm of ground clearance, an electronic locking differential, and the ability to ford water up to 800mm deep thanks to its snorkel, the Tasman offers impressive off-road credentials that align well with Milkor's requirements. What makes the Tasman particularly appealing as a long-term platform is its modular ladder-frame chassis, which Kia has designed to accommodate multiple powertrain options, and its eight to 12-year predicted lifespan. According to Roland Rivero, general manager of product planning at Kia Australia, the company is actively 'studying and reviewing' both hybrid and fully electric variants of the Tasman. As Toyota closes the chapter on its iconic V8 diesel engine, Milkor's partnership with Kia represents an adaptive strategy to ensure the continued evolution of its specialised vehicle offerings, maintaining its capability to serve defence and security needs across Africa and beyond. What's the deal with the Frontier? The Milkor Frontier is designed specifically for border surveillance operations, targeting law enforcement agencies, gendarmerie, and border management authorities. The vehicle features ballistic protection — capable of stopping an AK-47 armour-piercing round — while maintaining the agility required for difficult terrain. With a range of up to 800km thanks to extended fuel tanks, the Frontier can be customised with various accessories, including weapon systems and command and control suites. Milkor has morphed into a full-service military and defence contractor with its flagship 380 drone now reaching full production. DM
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Discover the Milkor 380: Africa's largest UAV unveiled
Milkor is a South African defence solutions provider with over 43 years of experience in Aerospace and Defence equipment manufacturing. The Milkor 380, Milkor's latest solution for Unmanned Aerial Systems, is the largest UAV ever to be developed, tested, and manufactured in Africa. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers It is not often that one sees what goes into creating and operating an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV), but on a tour of the Milkor manufacturing plant in Cape Town, this was exactly the access granted to see how the Milkor 380 is manufactured. Milkor is a private South African defence solutions provider with over 43 years of experience. It is known for defence solutions for air, land, and sea applications. Milkor manufactures armoured vehicles such as the BushCat, Frontier, and Vanguard APCS, which are designed to operate in challenging terrain while ensuring crew safety and comfort. They also manufacture 40mm Multiple Round Grenade Launchers, which they supply to more than 67 countries worldwide. Their facilities in Cape Town focus on aerospace and defence technologies. The Milkor 380 is the largest UAV to be developed, tested, and manufactured in Africa. It is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike missions. It boasts an operational range exceeding 4 000 kilometres and an endurance of up to 30 hours. It has a length of 9m with a wingspan of 18.8m. It can reach a maximum speed of 250km/h, and carry a max payload of 220kg, with a maximum take-off weight of 1 500kg. The Milkor 380, Milkor's latest solution for Unmanned Aerial Systems, is the largest UAV ever to be developed, tested, and manufactured in Africa. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Head of Business Development: Africa, Daniel du Plessis, explained that they are moving away from a development phase and transitioning into scaling their industrialisation efforts. Currently, they produce 12 a year, which are subject to the number of orders they have secured. The 12 that Milkor UAVS produces annually include the aircraft and their sub-components. Du Plessis explained that their ability to configure the aircraft to their client's needs may affect the timeline for delivering a Milkor 380 aircraft. He added that they also provide training on how to operate the systems before delivering a UAV. He highlighted how, because they can produce and manufacture the hardware and software in-house, they can update the technology for their clients and keep the systems updated. 'Typically, six months before the delivery of the first system, we would invite the engineers and the respective client to come for a full training, which includes the training on operations, flight control, payload operations, maintenance, communications, and the whole thing. 'This ensures that when you receive the first system, you have full operational control. We also support them for up to one year, as a standard offering, to fly with them, should they need our assistance.' Head of Business Development: Africa, Daniel du Plessis, explained that they are moving away from a development phase, and transitioning into scaling their industrialisation efforts. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The Milkor 380 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike missions. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Chief Stress Engineer, Vinkie Mlimo, explained that her role focuses on the different types of loads, and stress that is placed on the aircraft. 'In flight, with the aerodynamic flow, all of those factors impose certain loading onto the airframe itself, so stress analysis will then use that input from the aerodynamics team to say, 'when you are in flight the airframe is gonna see 10G-force' (10 times the acceleration due to gravity) and so then you have to make sure that the wing doesn't break off. 'In landing as well, we're mostly looking at the landing gears, as that is what sees most of the impact, as that is what is transferred onto the aircraft as well. That is what we look at for stress. 'With the landing gears, we can design them to be stiff… or you can choose to dampen that loading impact,' Mlimo said. 'And the choosing of the materials as well.' Mlimo went into greater detail explaining how they may choose different materials, depending on the stress that certain materials can handle, and that it all depends on what their configurations require. 'Different materials have different strengths and weaknesses, and it depends on the type of loading… Stress is similar to stress in a human being, it is just putting pressure on the airframe.' Du Plessis added that they have also been working toward the launch of their new UAV, Milkor 780, next year, which has a length of 12m with a wingspan of 24m, but that further insights into this new UAV will be showcased at next year's Africa Aerospace and Defence expo. [email protected]
