Tshwane showcase highlights South Africa’s homegrown defence technology

Locally developed South African defence technologies were showcased in Tshwane, where helicopters flew overhead and fighter jets crossed the skies as families and aviation enthusiasts watched the event.

The display included mobile surveillance radar systems, armoured vehicles and simulated combat demonstrations. Military leaders were also among those connected with technologies presented at the aerospace and defence show.

Radar developed with Waytech Defence

Kopano Peter Lebelo, Chief Director of Materiel Governance, highlighted a multi-role surveillance radar developed by his office in partnership with Waytech Defence.

Lebelo said the mobile radar system can survey distances of up to 200 to 300 nautical miles. That range is based on his description of the system and was not independently detailed in the supplied information.

He said the showcase was intended to challenge perceptions that South Africa and the wider continent lack the capacity to develop their own defence technologies.

Technology shaped by operational needs

According to Lebelo, many of the technologies presented began with operational challenges identified by military leaders.

“Chiefs tell us what difficulties they have, and we convert those difficulties into projects,” he said.

Lebelo also identified budget constraints as a major limitation, underscoring the financial pressures facing efforts to develop and sustain defence capabilities.

South Africa is described as having one of Africa’s most developed defence industries. Companies associated with the sector include Denel, Paramount Group and Milkor, which are involved in producing military equipment such as armoured vehicles, aircraft, missiles, ammunition and drones.

The supplied information does not specify the name, date or duration of the show, nor does it mention contracts, procurement decisions or funding linked to the technologies on display.