Milkor 380 Drone Gains Enhanced Surveillance Capabilities with South Korean AESA SAR Radar
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According to information published by Army Recognition on June 16, 2025, Hanwha Systems, a South Korean defense technology company, and Milkor Aerospace and Defence, a UAE-based manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, signed a strategic memorandum of understanding at the 2025 Paris Air Show. The agreement provides for the integration of Hanwha’s AESA SAR (Active Electronically Scanned Array Synthetic Aperture Radar) system onboard the Milkor 380, a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MoU was signed by Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE, and Hyuck Park, Executive Vice President of Hanwha’s Defense Electronics Division, to offer an advanced ISR solution ready for export to international markets.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Milkor 380 is a South African-designed MALE UAV offering over 30 hours of endurance and more than 4,000 km in operational range. (Picture source: Milkor)
The integration of this next-generation radar system represents a significant enhancement in the operational capabilities of the Milkor 380. Hanwha’s AESA SAR radar delivers improved high-resolution imaging, enabling target detection in degraded environments, both day and night, under all weather conditions. With electronically scanned array technology, it offers faster target acquisition, greater localization accuracy, and broader area coverage compared to traditional mechanical radars. This capacity transforms the Milkor 380 into a strategic surveillance asset capable of effectively monitoring large land or maritime areas.
The AESA SAR radar also provides essential functionalities such as Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication (GMTI/MMTI), which are critical for border control, illegal trafficking monitoring, and tracking suspicious activity in urban or coastal areas. With these capabilities, the Milkor 380 is suited for missions including border security, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) enforcement, anti-piracy operations, and protection of critical infrastructure. The SAR imaging function allows for precise terrain mapping, supporting the planning and execution of military or humanitarian operations in remote regions.
The Milkor 380 is a South African-designed MALE UAV offering over 30 hours of endurance and more than 4,000 km in operational range. It can reach a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and cruises between 110 and 150 km/h. Built with composite materials for durability and light weight, it features a rear-mounted pusher propeller that reduces acoustic and radar signatures. With a payload capacity of 220 kg, the UAV can carry various modular sensor packages, including electro-optical/infrared cameras, communications relay systems, and electronic warfare equipment.
In addition to ISR missions, the Milkor 380 is capable of being armed with precision-guided munitions, such as light bombs and rockets, within its payload capacity. This configuration allows it to perform targeted strike missions and provide real-time intelligence to command centers. It is designed to support counter-insurgency operations as well as tactical ground force missions. Its command and control system includes fixed or mobile ground stations, secure line-of-sight communication up to 250 km, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities via satellite link (SATCOM).
The naval version of the Milkor 380, developed in collaboration with Aerodata AG, highlights the platform’s modularity. It is already equipped with SAR/ISAR sensors for maritime surveillance. The addition of Hanwha’s AESA radar further strengthens its maritime detection capabilities, supporting missions such as fishery patrols, pollution monitoring, search and rescue, and counter-narcotics operations. This capability enhancement broadens the drone’s utility for naval forces and coast guards seeking to monitor large maritime zones without deploying manned aircraft.
The integration of a next-generation AESA SAR radar into a MALE UAV already recognized for its endurance, structural resilience, and versatility marks a step forward in platform capability. This development aligns with broader trends in military digital transformation, where unmanned systems equipped with interoperable, advanced sensors are becoming integral to operational effectiveness. The combination of Milkor 380’s reliability with Hanwha’s precision radar technology addresses growing demands from African, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets for adaptable, cost-effective ISR platforms.
This strategic memorandum represents more than a commercial partnership. It reflects a tangible advancement in long-range surveillance and light strike capabilities for modern forces. Hanwha and Milkor are aligning technical expertise to deliver a UAV solution tailored to contemporary security challenges and suited for export as a multi-role MALE system equipped with advanced sensor integration.
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According to information published by Army Recognition on June 16, 2025, Hanwha Systems, a South Korean defense technology company, and Milkor Aerospace and Defence, a UAE-based manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, signed a strategic memorandum of understanding at the 2025 Paris Air Show. The agreement provides for the integration of Hanwha’s AESA SAR (Active Electronically Scanned Array Synthetic Aperture Radar) system onboard the Milkor 380, a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MoU was signed by Julian Coetzee, CEO of Milkor UAE, and Hyuck Park, Executive Vice President of Hanwha’s Defense Electronics Division, to offer an advanced ISR solution ready for export to international markets.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Milkor 380 is a South African-designed MALE UAV offering over 30 hours of endurance and more than 4,000 km in operational range. (Picture source: Milkor)
The integration of this next-generation radar system represents a significant enhancement in the operational capabilities of the Milkor 380. Hanwha’s AESA SAR radar delivers improved high-resolution imaging, enabling target detection in degraded environments, both day and night, under all weather conditions. With electronically scanned array technology, it offers faster target acquisition, greater localization accuracy, and broader area coverage compared to traditional mechanical radars. This capacity transforms the Milkor 380 into a strategic surveillance asset capable of effectively monitoring large land or maritime areas.
The AESA SAR radar also provides essential functionalities such as Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication (GMTI/MMTI), which are critical for border control, illegal trafficking monitoring, and tracking suspicious activity in urban or coastal areas. With these capabilities, the Milkor 380 is suited for missions including border security, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) enforcement, anti-piracy operations, and protection of critical infrastructure. The SAR imaging function allows for precise terrain mapping, supporting the planning and execution of military or humanitarian operations in remote regions.
The Milkor 380 is a South African-designed MALE UAV offering over 30 hours of endurance and more than 4,000 km in operational range. It can reach a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and cruises between 110 and 150 km/h. Built with composite materials for durability and light weight, it features a rear-mounted pusher propeller that reduces acoustic and radar signatures. With a payload capacity of 220 kg, the UAV can carry various modular sensor packages, including electro-optical/infrared cameras, communications relay systems, and electronic warfare equipment.
In addition to ISR missions, the Milkor 380 is capable of being armed with precision-guided munitions, such as light bombs and rockets, within its payload capacity. This configuration allows it to perform targeted strike missions and provide real-time intelligence to command centers. It is designed to support counter-insurgency operations as well as tactical ground force missions. Its command and control system includes fixed or mobile ground stations, secure line-of-sight communication up to 250 km, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities via satellite link (SATCOM).
The naval version of the Milkor 380, developed in collaboration with Aerodata AG, highlights the platform’s modularity. It is already equipped with SAR/ISAR sensors for maritime surveillance. The addition of Hanwha’s AESA radar further strengthens its maritime detection capabilities, supporting missions such as fishery patrols, pollution monitoring, search and rescue, and counter-narcotics operations. This capability enhancement broadens the drone’s utility for naval forces and coast guards seeking to monitor large maritime zones without deploying manned aircraft.
The integration of a next-generation AESA SAR radar into a MALE UAV already recognized for its endurance, structural resilience, and versatility marks a step forward in platform capability. This development aligns with broader trends in military digital transformation, where unmanned systems equipped with interoperable, advanced sensors are becoming integral to operational effectiveness. The combination of Milkor 380’s reliability with Hanwha’s precision radar technology addresses growing demands from African, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets for adaptable, cost-effective ISR platforms.
This strategic memorandum represents more than a commercial partnership. It reflects a tangible advancement in long-range surveillance and light strike capabilities for modern forces. Hanwha and Milkor are aligning technical expertise to deliver a UAV solution tailored to contemporary security challenges and suited for export as a multi-role MALE system equipped with advanced sensor integration.
