Denel Dynamics

Denel Dynamics
Company typeDivision of proprietary limited company
Industryweapons development and manufacturing
Founded1991
HeadquartersCenturion, Gauteng, South Africa
Area served
World-wide
ProductsMissiles, ATGMs, Bombs, Glide bombs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
ParentDenel SOC Ltd (100% state-owned)
WebsiteDenelDynamics.co.za
Footnotes / references
Previously Kentron, a division of Denel (Pty) Ltd

Denel Dynamics, formerly Kentron, is a division of Denel SOC Ltd, a South African armaments development and manufacturing company wholly owned by the South African Government. It underwent a name change from Kentron to Denel Aerospace Systems in early 2004 and later to Denel Dynamics. Denel Dynamics is located in Centurion, South Africa. Several sites are operating according to ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certified.

Key products

Category Type Name
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
Hungwe - Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance
Seeker - Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance
Bateleur - MALE Aerial Reconnaissance
Skua - Target Drone
Guided Missiles
Air-to-air
A-Darter – short range infrared homing
R-Darter – radar-guided beyond-visual-range missile (BVR)
Air-to-surface
MUPSOW – multipurpose stand-off weapon air-launched cruise missile
TORGOS – (cruise missile) air-launched cruise missile
Surface-to-air Umkhonto – multi-range infrared homing missile series
Anti-tank guided missile
Mokopa – long-range laser-guided anti-tank missile
ZT3 Ingwe – multi-role laser-guided anti-tank missile
Guided bombs
Raptor – precision-guided glide bomb series
Umbani GPS/INS guidance kit for Mk.82, Mk.83 and Mk.84 bombs
Seekers Brazilian MAA-1 Piranha
Weapons management systems
Arachnida-1/2 weapons management system

Kentron developed the ARD-10 loitering drone for the South African Defence Force in the 1980s, however with the end of the South African Border Wars it did not enter service. Kentron sold the designs to Israel Aerospace Industries which used them to develop the IAI Harpy which was first tested in 1989. The designs were sold to Iran Aviation Industries Organization in 2004/5 and used by Shahed Aviation Industries to develop the Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 drones.[1]

UN arms embargo violation

Main article: Coventry Four

Four South Africans working for Kentron were arrested in March 1984 in Coventry and charged with violation of the UN arms embargo – which outlawed the export of arms and military equipment to apartheid South Africa.

The Coventry Four were granted bail against a deposit of £200,000 and a guarantee by a diplomat from the South African embassy who waived his diplomatic immunity. They were allowed to return to South Africa on condition that they appeared at their trial in England in August 1984. In the event, South African foreign minister, Pik Botha, refused to allow them to return for their trial.

See also

References

  1. ^ "South African heritage". Air Forces Monthly. December 2022. p. 23.