Dinkwanyana Aerospace
South African start-up maker of VTOL drones, developing an unmanned land vehicle.
Dinkwanyana Aerospace told the Africa Aerospace and Defence show in September 2026 that it is developing an unmanned land vehicle with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Twiga, for reconnaissance, surveillance and light tactical roles.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can a drone start-up deliver South Africa's first home-built ground robot?
Background
Dinkwanyana Aerospace is a South African start-up original equipment manufacturer of vertical-takeoff drones. It exhibited for the first time at Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) in September 2026. Its range includes the UVH-170, with a 45kg maximum takeoff weight and five hours of endurance, the larger UVH-500, the UVH-25EL for commercial use, and counter-drone systems.
At that show the company said it is working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Twiga on an unmanned land vehicle. defenceWeb reported that the vehicle is in early development and aimed at reconnaissance, surveillance and light tactical roles. No specifications appeared in defenceWeb's report.
The land vehicle was the only unmanned ground exhibit found at AAD 2026; the other unmanned exhibits were aerial. Its route into ground robots starts from the UVH drone range, not from armoured vehicles.
