At the 2024 African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (AAD), held at Waterkloof Air Force Base from 18 to 22 September, a revitalised Denel made a strong return to the public stage. With renewed focus and leadership, Denel presented a wide array of globally competitive products, demonstrating the company’s innovative advances in both the landward and aerospace sectors.
Tsepo Monaheng, Denel’s Group CEO, expressed the significance of the event for the company, which had not publicly exhibited since its transition to the Department of Defence. Monaheng remarked, “The new structure placed Denel at the core of the broader defence and security community, and we were confident that it would lead to a fresh understanding of the value Denel brings as a strategic national asset.”
Denel’s pavilion in Hall 5 attracted international attention, hosting delegations from over 20 countries, alongside defence decision-makers, industry analysts, and the media. Despite facing difficulties in recent years, Denel’s reputation remained strong. “Our products, services, and people continued to be known and respected in the defence and technology sectors,” Monaheng said.
At AAD 2024, Denel displayed a range of its cutting-edge offerings, including advanced artillery systems, guided weapons, armoured vehicles, and unmanned aerial systems. In addition to its renowned Rooivalk attack helicopter, Denel highlighted new developments in missile technology, showcasing upgrades to the Umkhonto missile system and the restarting of the A-Darter air-to-air missile programme.
Earlier in the year, Denel had restructured its operations into four key business units: Denel Aerospace, Denel Guided Weapons, Denel Landward, and Denel Integrated System Solutions. This reorganisation aimed to consolidate operations and streamline services to clients. “These strategic changes enabled us to provide optimal service to our stakeholders,” Monaheng explained.
Denel also made strides in rebuilding its order pipeline, having secured new contracts and positioning itself for future opportunities. The company’s presence at AAD 2024 followed a successful showcase earlier in the year at the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia. Denel’s business development efforts extended across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia.
Denel’s turnaround gained momentum, with a technology roadmap developed in partnership with the CSIR and Armscor, ensuring the company remained aligned with the needs of the SANDF and other national stakeholders in high-tech security sectors. Monaheng noted that Denel had regained critical skills and ramped up operations on key programmes.
Photo Credit: Tiaan Van Niekerk for ©Worldairnews
