DEFENCEWEB
South Africa’s Milkor company is partnering with Germany’s Aerodata AG to develop a new specialized platform for maritime surveillance, the AeroForce 380, which is based on the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle.
This medium altitude long endurance drone, tailored specifically for maritime surveillance and coast guard missions, can fly as high as 9,000 meters. It has enhancements that allow it to operate below 1,000 meters, which is ideal for maritime surveillance operations.
The drone can fly for up to 35 hours, ensuring extended mission coverage and increased operational efficiency, Milkor said. It can carry up to 250 kilograms. It has sensors, a ship positioning system and side-looking airborne radar.
Company officials said it also will be useful for target acquisition and reconnaissance missions. It can fly in manual mode and autonomously. The drone is 9 meters long with an 18-meter wingspan, resembling a glider.
“With a maximum take-off weight of 1,300 kilograms and the capability to carry mission-specific payloads, the AeroForce 380 has the potential to revolutionize surveillance aircraft fleets worldwide,” Aerodata said.