From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.
Braddick Defense Systems is developing a high-speed, long-range, mobile deployment unmanned aerial vehicle for surveillance of an attack-mission augmentation in collaboration with Marenco Engineering Technologies Africa. Anine Vermeulen has the story.

Anine Vermeulen:
Braddick Defense Systems CEO Adam McCallum says that the lock-wing drone was originally going to be a quadracopter; however, while conducting research for the project, Braddick contacted Marenco Engineering, as they are experts in this field, and the idea of a lock-wing drone came to fruition.

Braddick Defense Systems CEO Adam McCallum:
The drone would be a field deployable capability deployed by the forces. It would then hover over or loiter over that target, provide live surveillance feeds to the required decision makers and then sniping forces could neutralise that target by dropping ordinance on it.

Anine Vermeulen:
The first prototype of the drone recently completed a full autonomous mission, with a camera. The second prototype, which will be completed this year, will be a one-sixth scale model.

Adam McCallum:
Essentially our mandate was to develop a vehicle that would have a vertical landing and take off capability that could be field-deployable and that could support clandestine or under cover forces operating within the fields of operation within Africa. This is a purely African engineered device to help with an African solution to African problems.

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Gauteng’s aerotropolis master plan is to get under way soon; Nissan is to revive the Datsun brand in South Africa; and the e-tolling delay holds up additional freeway projects.

The development of a master plan for the aerotropolis concept around South Africa’s busiest airport was set to get under way following the appointment of Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe to manage the process, says Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokoyane

Nissan South Africa has announced that the Datsun brand is set to return to South Africa, with its first model – priced at under R100 000 – to be launched by the end of 2014.

Nissan Motor corporate VP Vincent Cobee

Delays caused by public opposition to the implementation of e-tolling are a great concern to the South African National Roads Agency Limited, with the agency experiencing a loss in revenue, which has led to the roll-out of other planned phases of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project being placed on hold, says GFIP manager Alex Van Niekerk.

GFIP manager Alex Van Niekerk

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.