South Africa's state-owned defence company, Denel, say it is open for business. The company used Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2024 to clearly demonstrate that it has stabilised, recovered some critical skills, brought operations back online and begun ramping up delivery on key programmes.
It was badly affected by state capture and has faced significant operational and financial headwinds in recent years.
Denel's Group Chief Operating Officer, William Hlakoane, said they are rebuilding their order pipeline and were upgrading key products that had in the past attracted global interest such as the G5 and G6 artillery systems, the Umkhonto missile system, and that the A-Darter air-to-air missile system had been restarted.
He said Denel was on an upward trajectory and that they had shown the world that the company could produce products of quality. As an example, he cited the G6 self-propelled howitzer developed in the 1980s, saying "after 30 years we still have the gun". He added they are engaging with the outside world to improve their products and moving to new technology were looking to partner with other companies.
Denel has been restructured and rationalised into four distinct business units dealing with aerospace, guided weapons, landward defence and integrated systems solutions.
