Analysis | Why the Milkor 380 UAV could change how South America secures its skies and borders
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On March 26, 2025, the South African company Milkor announced that the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be featured at LAAD 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This UAV could address several critical operational challenges particularly relevant to South American countries, such as high-altitude surveillance in the Andes, operations over rainforest regions of the Amazon basin, monitoring of international borders such as those between Colombia and Venezuela, and patrols of Pacific and Atlantic maritime zones.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Considered as one of the top ten medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs globally based on its capabilities, the Milkor 380’s endurance and range make it suitable for extended missions across Latin and South America. (Picture source: Milkor)
For instance, with an operational ceiling of up to 23,000 feet and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, the Milkor 380 is capable of maintaining stable flight in mountainous regions such as the Andes, where thinner atmospheric conditions and complex topography can hinder surveillance by conventional aircraft. In areas where road access is minimal and terrain presents logistical obstacles, the drone’s autonomous flight control system supports consistent aerial monitoring without requiring direct human piloting. Furthermore, its compatibility with Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems allows it to interface with existing national defense frameworks.
In rainforest areas where thick vegetation obstructs ground and aerial visibility, the Milkor 380’s integration of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems facilitates observation through dense canopy cover. These sensors enable operators to detect heat signatures or structural anomalies in regions affected by unauthorized activities such as logging or smuggling. This capability is intended to provide actionable intelligence to both environmental enforcement agencies and internal security forces operating in difficult-to-reach zones.
Considered as one of the top ten medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs globally based on its capabilities, the Milkor 380’s endurance of over 30 hours and its range exceeding 4,000 kilometers make it suitable for extended border patrol missions across remote frontiers, surpassing some of its most renowned counterparts. This endurance allows the drone to monitor key transit points and sparsely populated corridors that are often exploited for smuggling or unregulated crossings. Its ability to carry payloads of up to 220 kilograms, and a total load including fuel of 535 kilograms, allows for the deployment of multiple surveillance systems, communications relays, or other mission-specific equipment simultaneously.
The Milkor 380 has been adapted for civil protection applications. In the event of natural disasters, such as landslides triggered by El Niño-related weather events or wildfires affecting remote rural regions, the drone can be deployed to survey damage zones and provide real-time imaging. This supports local authorities in coordinating emergency response and allocating resources based on verified on-site conditions. Its EO/IR and multispectral sensors can operate during both day and night, contributing to rapid situation assessment, while its dual redundant Line of Sight (LOS) and satellite data links ensure stable communication during such missions, meaning that the drone can safely help rescue workers for longer and more effectively.
In the maritime domain, the AeroForce 380 variant, developed in partnership with German firm Aerodata AG, is optimized for coastal and offshore surveillance. This model integrates Inverse SAR (ISAR), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) to detect vessels engaged in unlicensed fishing activity or violating Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries. With endurance of up to 35 hours and a mission range that allows operations up to 2,750 kilometers with an additional 10 hours of on-station time, it can be used for sustained patrols over large maritime areas, supporting both naval and coast guard operations.
In 2024, Milkor expanded its production capacity by opening a 10,000-square-meter facility located near key South African Air Force bases, facilitating flight testing and operator training. (Picture source: Milkor)
Furthermore, the Milkor 380 supports integration with up to three platforms simultaneously through a built-in relay for video, audio, geolocation, and high-speed data transfer, which could enable coordinated operations across different branches of the armed forces. For example, a border patrol aircraft, a navy vessel monitoring coastal areas, and a ground response unit can all receive the same live intelligence from the UAV, reducing the risk of delayed or fragmented information.
The Milkor 380’s airframe includes five hardpoints, with underbelly and wing-mounted payload options. Inner wing hardpoints can support up to 150 kilograms each, while outer hardpoints can carry 80 kilograms each. The underbelly can accommodate sensors, guided munitions, or other systems. A modular nose section supports EO/IR gimbals with diameters up to 500 mm, allowing sensor customization based on mission requirements. The UAV is powered by a globally available turbocharged engine and operates on either 110 LL Avgas or 93 UL Mogas.
Anti-icing features are integrated, further enhancing the Milkor 380’s operational reliability in South America’s high-altitude regions, where icing conditions can compromise aircraft performance and safety. For instance, the Cuyo region in Argentina experiences icy conditions above 4,000 meters throughout the year. Effective anti-icing systems help prevent ice accumulation on critical components such as wings and control surfaces, which can otherwise lead to increased weight, reduced lift, and potential loss of control. By mitigating these risks, the Milkor 380 ensures consistent performance and safety during missions in such challenging environments
Development of the Milkor 380 began in 2021, followed by taxi testing in early 2023 and its first flight on 19 September 2023. In 2024, Milkor expanded its production capacity by opening a 10,000-square-meter facility in Cape Town, South Africa. This facility consolidates R&D, production, and integration processes and is located near key South African Air Force bases for flight testing and operator training. Annual production capacity is currently eight units, with plans to reach sixteen units by 2026. The system’s avionics, communication modules, control systems, and automation functions are developed in-house by Milkor’s team of 350 employees, of which 80% are engineers.
In addition to system development, Milkor emphasizes its involvement in workforce development and knowledge retention within the South African defense sector. As described by Daniel du Plessis, Milkor’s Head of Business Development in Africa, the company has integrated experienced engineers with recent university graduates to develop and maintain its UAV programs. This approach supports continued innovation and domestic capacity-building. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are also viewed as a strategy for enhancing local support infrastructure and reducing reliance on foreign service providers. Du Plessis noted that the Milkor 380’s production phase has paved the way for the next project, the Milkor 780—a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV expected to carry 2,700 kilograms with a 30–40 hour flight time, targeted for introduction at AAD 2026.
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On March 26, 2025, the South African company Milkor announced that the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be featured at LAAD 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This UAV could address several critical operational challenges particularly relevant to South American countries, such as high-altitude surveillance in the Andes, operations over rainforest regions of the Amazon basin, monitoring of international borders such as those between Colombia and Venezuela, and patrols of Pacific and Atlantic maritime zones.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Considered as one of the top ten medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs globally based on its capabilities, the Milkor 380’s endurance and range make it suitable for extended missions across Latin and South America. (Picture source: Milkor)
For instance, with an operational ceiling of up to 23,000 feet and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, the Milkor 380 is capable of maintaining stable flight in mountainous regions such as the Andes, where thinner atmospheric conditions and complex topography can hinder surveillance by conventional aircraft. In areas where road access is minimal and terrain presents logistical obstacles, the drone’s autonomous flight control system supports consistent aerial monitoring without requiring direct human piloting. Furthermore, its compatibility with Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems allows it to interface with existing national defense frameworks.
In rainforest areas where thick vegetation obstructs ground and aerial visibility, the Milkor 380’s integration of Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems facilitates observation through dense canopy cover. These sensors enable operators to detect heat signatures or structural anomalies in regions affected by unauthorized activities such as logging or smuggling. This capability is intended to provide actionable intelligence to both environmental enforcement agencies and internal security forces operating in difficult-to-reach zones.
Considered as one of the top ten medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs globally based on its capabilities, the Milkor 380’s endurance of over 30 hours and its range exceeding 4,000 kilometers make it suitable for extended border patrol missions across remote frontiers, surpassing some of its most renowned counterparts. This endurance allows the drone to monitor key transit points and sparsely populated corridors that are often exploited for smuggling or unregulated crossings. Its ability to carry payloads of up to 220 kilograms, and a total load including fuel of 535 kilograms, allows for the deployment of multiple surveillance systems, communications relays, or other mission-specific equipment simultaneously.
The Milkor 380 has been adapted for civil protection applications. In the event of natural disasters, such as landslides triggered by El Niño-related weather events or wildfires affecting remote rural regions, the drone can be deployed to survey damage zones and provide real-time imaging. This supports local authorities in coordinating emergency response and allocating resources based on verified on-site conditions. Its EO/IR and multispectral sensors can operate during both day and night, contributing to rapid situation assessment, while its dual redundant Line of Sight (LOS) and satellite data links ensure stable communication during such missions, meaning that the drone can safely help rescue workers for longer and more effectively.
In the maritime domain, the AeroForce 380 variant, developed in partnership with German firm Aerodata AG, is optimized for coastal and offshore surveillance. This model integrates Inverse SAR (ISAR), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) to detect vessels engaged in unlicensed fishing activity or violating Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries. With endurance of up to 35 hours and a mission range that allows operations up to 2,750 kilometers with an additional 10 hours of on-station time, it can be used for sustained patrols over large maritime areas, supporting both naval and coast guard operations.
In 2024, Milkor expanded its production capacity by opening a 10,000-square-meter facility located near key South African Air Force bases, facilitating flight testing and operator training. (Picture source: Milkor)
Furthermore, the Milkor 380 supports integration with up to three platforms simultaneously through a built-in relay for video, audio, geolocation, and high-speed data transfer, which could enable coordinated operations across different branches of the armed forces. For example, a border patrol aircraft, a navy vessel monitoring coastal areas, and a ground response unit can all receive the same live intelligence from the UAV, reducing the risk of delayed or fragmented information.
The Milkor 380’s airframe includes five hardpoints, with underbelly and wing-mounted payload options. Inner wing hardpoints can support up to 150 kilograms each, while outer hardpoints can carry 80 kilograms each. The underbelly can accommodate sensors, guided munitions, or other systems. A modular nose section supports EO/IR gimbals with diameters up to 500 mm, allowing sensor customization based on mission requirements. The UAV is powered by a globally available turbocharged engine and operates on either 110 LL Avgas or 93 UL Mogas.
Anti-icing features are integrated, further enhancing the Milkor 380’s operational reliability in South America’s high-altitude regions, where icing conditions can compromise aircraft performance and safety. For instance, the Cuyo region in Argentina experiences icy conditions above 4,000 meters throughout the year. Effective anti-icing systems help prevent ice accumulation on critical components such as wings and control surfaces, which can otherwise lead to increased weight, reduced lift, and potential loss of control. By mitigating these risks, the Milkor 380 ensures consistent performance and safety during missions in such challenging environments
Development of the Milkor 380 began in 2021, followed by taxi testing in early 2023 and its first flight on 19 September 2023. In 2024, Milkor expanded its production capacity by opening a 10,000-square-meter facility in Cape Town, South Africa. This facility consolidates R&D, production, and integration processes and is located near key South African Air Force bases for flight testing and operator training. Annual production capacity is currently eight units, with plans to reach sixteen units by 2026. The system’s avionics, communication modules, control systems, and automation functions are developed in-house by Milkor’s team of 350 employees, of which 80% are engineers.
In addition to system development, Milkor emphasizes its involvement in workforce development and knowledge retention within the South African defense sector. As described by Daniel du Plessis, Milkor’s Head of Business Development in Africa, the company has integrated experienced engineers with recent university graduates to develop and maintain its UAV programs. This approach supports continued innovation and domestic capacity-building. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are also viewed as a strategy for enhancing local support infrastructure and reducing reliance on foreign service providers. Du Plessis noted that the Milkor 380’s production phase has paved the way for the next project, the Milkor 780—a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV expected to carry 2,700 kilograms with a 30–40 hour flight time, targeted for introduction at AAD 2026.
