By Garth Calitz There was a time when military aviation was fairly straightforward. You had an aircraft, a pilot, some weapons, a radar and, if things went particularly badly, a very expensive meeting afterwards. Those days are disappearing rapidly. One of the most obvious trends at Africa Aerospace and Defence 2026 is the sheer prevalence of unmanned systems. What was once regarded as a specialist niche populated largely by remotely piloted surveillance aircraft has evolved

By Rob Russell Not a horror movie gone wrong, but a stunning, moving display to remember a horrendous and shocking event in our history. On the evening of Wednesday, 9th September, months of planning culminated in downtown New York, as the sky filled with drones watched by thousands who had gathered to see the unique event. To mark the 25th anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers, it was decided to do something unique, never seen before and very appropriate to the l

Angola is taking another step into the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aviation, with the delivery of six ANAVIA HT-100 NAVAL unmanned helicopters for its new generation of naval corvettes. The six aircraft, built by Swiss manufacturer ANAVIA, have completed Factory Acceptance Trials and have been handed over to the Angolan Navy. Two systems will eventually be carried by each of Angola’s three new BR71 MK II Combattante-class corvettes, providing the ships with an organic

By Garth Calitz In less than a week, the skies over Pretoria will once again become considerably busier as aircraft, defence systems, aerospace companies and thousands of aviation enthusiasts converge on Air Force Base Waterkloof for Africa Aerospace and Defence 2026. The 13th edition of AAD runs from 16 to 20 September, with three days dedicated to the trade exhibition before the gates open to the general public for the two-day air show on 19 and 20 September. For five days,

By Garth Calitz Cape Winelands Airport is being designed to do something rather more ambitious than simply provide another runway and terminal for the Western Cape. Buried within the airport’s long-term development plans is an idea that could prove considerably more important to aviation than the passenger terminal itself: a dedicated “sky corridor” designed to accommodate drones, VTOL aircraft and other emerging forms of aviation. The concept is still in its initial phase an

As modern battlefields continue to evolve, one of the greatest challenges facing military planners is how to defeat a weapon that is both inexpensive to build and costly to intercept. Airbus Defence and Space believes it has found part of the answer with its latest development, the Bird of Prey, a reusable uncrewed interceptor designed specifically to hunt and destroy one-way attack drones. The rapid proliferation of one-way attack drones, often referred to as Suicide drones

As wildfires become larger, more destructive and increasingly difficult to control, the aviation industry is searching for innovative ways to support traditional aerial firefighting operations. One of the most intriguing concepts currently under development is the FLYOX I, a large amphibious uncrewed aircraft developed by Spanish company Singular Aircraft. Unlike the small drones that have become commonplace for aerial photography and infrastructure inspections, the FLYOX I o

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat has reached another significant milestone in its development, becoming the first collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to participate in the multinational Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, providing valuable insight into how autonomous aircraft could operate alongside crewed fighters in future coalition operations. Held across the Western Pacific in June, the biennial exercise brought together forces from the United States and allied nations to refine joi

When millions of Americans looked skyward during the recent America 250 celebrations, they witnessed a breathtaking spectacle unlike anything seen during previous Independence Day commemorations. Instead of relying solely on traditional fireworks, thousands of illuminated drones painted giant images across the night sky, telling the story of 250 years of American history through light, movement and precision choreography. The display, created by Texas-based Sky Elements, feat

Cape Town-based drone pilot and videographer Luke Bell has pushed the boundaries of unmanned aviation after setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest flight by a multirotor drone. His specially developed "Endurance Drone" remained airborne for an impressive 4 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds, establishing a new benchmark for electric multirotor endurance. The achievement represents the culmination of months of engineering, testing and refinement. Rather than relying