SA defence company Milkor signs MoU with South Korea's Hanwha Systems to integrate radar tech into drone
South African defence company Milkor, a prominent manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a leading South Korean defence technology company, Hanwha Systems, to deliver a fully integrated, export-ready surveillance and reconnaissance capability to both regional and international markets.
The MOU, signed at the 2025 Paris Air Show, will see Hanwha Systems integrate their Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system onboard the Milkor 380.
The MoU was signed by Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE, and Hyuck Park, Senior Vice President of Hanwha Systems’ Defence Electronics Business Division.
CEO of Milkor UAE, Julian Coetzee, said: “This partnership brings together two highly capable organisations that complement one another.”
“We are looking forward to our continued collaborative efforts with Hanwha. By combining our resources and expertise, we believe we can create great opportunities, not just in the Middle East but across international markets.”
The Milkor 380 is a multi-role UAV designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike missions. It boasts over 35 hours of endurance, a payload capacity exceeding 220kg, and a range greater than 4,000 km.
The platform features multiple hardpoints, SATCOM capabilities, and a modular open systems architecture, making it highly adaptable for a wide range of mission profiles.
Milkor’s communications director, Daniel du Plessis, said: “As a proudly South African defence company, Milkor is constantly seeking ways to ensure that our capabilities remain market relevant and offer a complete solution to our clients.
“This includes collaboration with world-leading companies, like Hanwha Systems, which offer advanced systems in radar surveillance capabilities. “In the South African context, the Milkor 380 UAV offers substantial benefits to the economy, job creation and retention of critical skills within the defence industry,” Du Plessis said.
“Collaboration with reputable companies globally not only speaks volumes of the capabilities still within the South African defence industry but creates additional opportunities to market these capabilities on a global stage.”
Hyuck Park, Senior Vice President of Hanwha, said: “This collaboration allows us to combine Hanwha’s advanced technology with Milkor’s proven UAV platform to deliver next-generation defence capabilities to global customers.”
Hanwha Systems brings deep expertise in AESA radar technology, having developed advanced airborne radar solutions.
The integration of its SAR payload will equip the Milkor 380 with high-resolution imaging, Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication, and all-weather reconnaissance capability, significantly enhancing its effectiveness in intelligence-gathering and situational awareness.
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za