From grenade launchers to the sky

For four decades Milkor meant one thing: the MGL, a six-shot 40 mm grenade launcher with a revolving cylinder like an outsized revolver. Founded around 1980 by Andries Piek, the company sold it to armies and police in more than 50 countries, and its basic design was the starting point for the US M32 used by the US Marine Corps, built under licence by an unrelated firm, Milkor USA. Then, from 2017, the private company set out to expand into land, sea, cyber and, most ambitiously, air systems.

Africa’s biggest drone

The air programme began with a small demonstrator, the MA80, which first flew in 2017. Its big brother was the Milkor 380, a medium-altitude long-endurance drone that the company billed as the largest UAV designed and manufactured in Africa, with every component built in house. It spans 18.6 metres, weighs up to 1,500 kg, runs on a single Rotax 915 iS piston engine and has five hardpoints for weapons and sensors. Early airframes were laid up by hand; production moved to vacuum resin infusion.

Five for the air force

The Milkor 380 made its maiden flight on 19 September 2023. South Africa’s cabinet approved its acquisition that November, and by 2024 five were reported in service with the South African Air Force. The company quotes endurance of up to 30 hours and a range of up to 4,000 km. The aircraft is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, carries a payload of up to 220 kg and has a quoted service ceiling of 30,000 ft.

الناس

• Andries C. Piek · founder

الأرقام القياسية والأولويات

• Milkor 380: described as the largest UAV designed and manufactured in Africa