HENSOLDT DEMONSTRATES ASTUS UAV TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS

Early in December 2022, HENSOLDT South Africa recently held flight demonstrations of its ASTUS unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Western Cape for potential customers, showcasing the aircraft’s sensor payload capabilities.

Demonstration flights began on 24 November and continued last week in Saldanha on the Cape west coast. Various flight profiles were flown around Saldanha, out to ranges of more than 100 kilometres ranges of more than 100 kilometres and altitudes of up to 16 000 feet (maximum communications range is 200 km). The aircraft demonstrated its utility in roles from traffic monitoring to maritime surveillance, fisheries patrol and counter-poaching. Numerous potential customers attended the demonstration, including South African and international serious prospective buyers. Attendees were from both civil and military institutions, including non-governmental organisations and city councils. Other flight demonstrations will take place early next year.