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.
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 bombsSeekers Brazilian MAA-1 PiranhaWeapons 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.
UN arms embargo violation
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 Armscor (South Africa) Military of South Africa Military history of South Africa South African Air Force List of aircraft of the South African Air Force Advena (formerly Kentron Circle)
References
External links Denel Dynamics Official Site