₦airaland Forum

NA HALO jump.


https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Em1cxLSMa/

Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar led a Nigerian Air Force delegation to San Diego, California (9–13 June 2025) for talks with the US Govt & Bell Textron on fast-tracking delivery of 12 AH-1Z Viper helicopters.

........................................

Who else is smelling an upcoming Israeli false flag operation to drag the US into war?

GreenandGold:
Who else is smelling an upcoming Israeli false flag operation to drag the US into war?

We all know that's the game plan all along

MiddleDimension:
We all know that's the game plan all along

Especially since Iran made it clear that every American is now a target. They literally handed over a justification for Israel and the CIA to create a perfect 9/11.

Also, with Trump and Republicans having low ratings, Iran will be the perfect diversion.

A conundrum for those among us who are incapable of thinking outside binary/ campist little boxes: Iran strikes largest US base in mid east located in Hamas’ primary financier, whose aid to Hamas was channeled through Israel.
If god existed, I would say he/she/it has an exquisite sense of irony.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/24/israel-iran-war-live-updates-trump-declares-ceasefire-tehran-attack-us-base-qatar?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-685a87c98f087d712b381a79#block-685a87c98f087d712b381a79

Lurker4Long:
A conundrum for those among us who are incapable of thinking outside binary/ campist little boxes: Iran strikes largest US base in mid east located in Hamas’ primary financier, whose aid to Hamas was channeled through Israel.
If god existed, I would say he/she/it has an exquisite sense of irony.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/24/israel-iran-war-live-updates-trump-declares-ceasefire-tehran-attack-us-base-qatar?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-685a87c98f087d712b381a79#block-685a87c98f087d712b381a79

The link you posted is broken. I would love to read that piece

Despite all his ranting on X
Orange man changing his stance and words faster than a chameleon changing its colour
The fear of closing the Strait of Hormuz

https://youtube.com/shorts/O_MTxxi5oVc?si=aHb_OugATqUguJMU

The Warrior-class IPVs, SAS King Shaka Zulu and SAS Adam Kok III came down from their Durban base; the frigate SAS Amatola went up from Cape Town. They met halfway, in East London. Interesting bit of info:

SAS AMATOLA Name Port. She was named after the AMATOLE MOUNTAIN in East London. This was the site of the Battle of the Axe between the Xhosa and British. Hence the axe and chief's feather on her Ships Badge. The valour displayed by both sides is recognized by the naming of the 1st FSG, SAS AMATOLA. I had the privilege of accompanying my then OC Captain Guy Jamieson and a few of the crew members to the battle site. It was well maintained and preserved by the locals who were quite knowledgeable on the events that transpired there.

Was playing around FlightRadar24, boom a RAF A400 doing rounds on the Falkland Islands.

Nigerian Air Force Air Marshal Hasan Balla Abubakar, the 22nd chief of the air staff, sits in the cock pit of a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a tour at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, June 12, 2025. The tour featured an AH-1Z Viper assigned to HMLA-367 and allowed the Marines and Nigerian Air Force members to discuss the roles and capabilities of the squadron.

Forged in Precision: How Spartan Arms Is Quietly Redefining South African Firearm Manufacturing
In a global firearms market often dominated by legacy manufacturers and mass-production players; Spartan Arms is taking a different path. Founded in 2013 by competitive shooter Demis and co-founder Terry, the South African-based firm has grown from a modest retail shop into a serious contender in firearm manufacturing, one that now supplies police forces, exports internationally, and prides itself on doing things differently. ProtectionWeb sat down with Keagan Salt to discuss the company’s operations and flag ship product, the SAI AR’s.

The crown jewel of Spartan’s product line is the SAI AR15 (Spartan Arms International), a semi-automatic rifle designed to user specifications. Built from forged T7075 upper and lower receivers, it features a QPQ (Quench Polish Quench) Black Bolt-Carrier Group, free-floating rail systems, mil-spec triggers, buffer tubes and stocks. Each rifle is chambered in .223 Wylde, making it safe for both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition.

That chamber choice is deliberate. Salt explains, “The .223 Remington was designed for bolt action, manually operated rifles. With an AR, one mag and the chamber’s filthy. The .223 Wylde is the most forgiving, accurate, versatile, and reliable, even when dirty.” Combined with a 1:8 twist rate barrel; Spartan’s rifles can stabilise heavier projectiles while remaining compatible with standard 55-grain NATO ammo. “It’s a combination that really worked for us,” Salt says.

Everything but one minor process (due to space limitations) is now done in-house at Spartan’s Edenvale facility. The company’s design ethos is defined by obsessive iteration. “If there’s something we can improve, such as polishing a chamber, refining a cut, we do it,” Salt says. “We never stop looking for better ways to refine the process.”

That engineering philosophy has paid off. In range tests, Spartan’s rifles regularly fire hundreds of rounds without a single jam, even when the chamber is fouled. “Not one failure,” Salt reports. “We stand by our product. We wouldn’t be in business if we were constantly replacing parts.”

The rifles also come with a lifetime warranty, excluding only the barrel, which is considered a wear-and-tear item.

Expanding the Line, 9mm, .300 Blackout and Beyond

Not content with just the .223 platform, Spartan Arms has developed a 9mm AR-style carbine, feeding from Glock magazines and designed for close-quarters use. This was followed by the launch of a .300 Blackout variant, purpose-built for subsonic ammunition, with modified gas-port sizing to ensure cycling even with suppressors and subsonic ammunition.

Real-World Adoption and Repeat Business

Spartan Arms is already supplying rifles to the Botswana Police Service, Malawian Correctional Services, and multiple South African Metro police departments, with further international expansion underway. The response, Salt says, has been overwhelmingly positive, “The feedback’s been fantastic, and we’re getting follow-up orders. That’s how you know your product’s working.”

In a market where word-of-mouth and operational performance matter more than flashy marketing, repeat institutional business is a strong indicator of success.

But Salt is clear-eyed about the road ahead. “We’re not trying to flood the market. We’re building rifles the way we think they should be built. Durable, reliable, accurate, and backed by real support.”

In a crowded firearms industry filled with shortcuts and compromises, Spartan Arms is choosing a harder but more sustainable path, built on precision, local manufacturing, and relentless testing.
https://www.protectionweb.co.za/industry/forged-in-precision-how-spartan-arms-is-quietly-redefining-south-african-firearm-manufacturing/

I saw this on Reddit. Saffers or anyone pls identify the rifle.

Namibian Air Force An-26 & Mi-24 Helo

Exnavyboy62:
I saw this on Reddit. Saffers or anyone pls identify the rifle.

It's a modified R4/Galil rifle. There's an ongoing modification program to modernise the R4/R5 /R6 rifle range.

Other examples below.

Will soon make mililikor company close down

slimthugchimee2:
Will soon make mililikor company close down

Denel Land Systems should also be on their toes and beware

UPDF helicopter crashes at Mogadishu – five deaths reported
A Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Mi-24 helicopter detached to the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia crashed at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport on Wednesday 2 July with five fatalities.

A UPDF statement has it the rotorcraft (AUO-015) crashed about 200 metres east of the airport’s north ramp. All told eight people were aboard, according to the UPDF.

The helicopter was conducting a routine combat escort mission when it crashed carrying unspecified munitions. The crash, as per the UPDF statement, triggered detonation causing “significant damage” to nearby structures and injuring three civilians.

The three-man flight deck crew of pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived the crash but suffered serious injuries including burns and were taken to the AUSSOM (AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia) Sector 1 Level II Hospital for treatment.

A joint emergency response team of firefighters from Mogadishu International Airport and the United Nations (UN), along with AUSSOM explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, is managing the scene and supporting rescue operations.

An official investigation to determine the cause of the crash is underway.

Ugandan troops are part of an 11 000-strong African Union (AU) force helping the Somali government fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than two decades.

The head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, told the BBC that the helicopter had come down in the airport’s military section after flying in from the Balidogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region, north-west of Mogadishu.

Last September, the Ugandan military lost a transport helicopter while flying from Mogadishu to Baledogle Airfield. All four peacekeepers on board survived that incident, according to the military.

The Ugandan crash comes a month after Burundi lost one of its two AB 412 helicopters deployed in Somalia with AUSSOM. The aircraft (BAF-1135/AUO-012), experienced a technical malfunction and made a forced landing near Hawadley, 50 km from Mogadishu, on 2 June. The helicopter was transporting Burundian peacekeepers from the recently evacuated Hawadley village after heavy flooding forced their withdrawal.

According to AUSSOM, the aircraft experienced mechanical failure during the operation, prompting the pilots to carry out an emergency landing in a location near Al-Shabaab-controlled territory. All personnel onboard fled the scene and were later transferred to a nearby military base. However, the abandoned aircraft was subsequently captured by Al-Shabaab fighters.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/updf-helicopter-crashes-at-mogadishu-five-deaths-reported/

Gunshot detection goes mobile: app turns phones and smartwatches into instant security sensors
Gunshot detection systems no longer require dedicated specialist sensors, and can now easily run on mobile phones and smartwatches.

One such system, Triangula, was on display the Securex exhibition at Gallagher Estate last week. The system can be deployed in minutes by installing the Triangula Scout app on three or more supported devices, which can include Apple Watch Ultras. No special hardware is required, and no calibration process is necessary. The gunshot detection is close to real-time, and the system can cover large areas in diverse environments.

Triangula uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and separate the sounds of the muzzle blast from weapons to position gunshots, identify weapons (including calibre and if a silencer was used) and estimate gunshot directions – direction can be indicated on phones and watches fitted with magnetic compasses. It can distinguish between false alarms like cars backfiring and fireworks, for example, and be used to detect explosions, making it useful for identifying ATM and cash-in-transit (CIT) heists.

Triangula can map a shooter within four seconds, out to two kilometres – accuracy is less than 10 metres of the shot. Shot processing is done immediately, unlike many other systems that send data for analysis, which could take up to 60 seconds. As a specialised acoustic sensor is not necessary, Triangula does not need a high speed data connection.

The Triangula system was being showcased by South African company Risk Diversion, which specialises in forensic services (computer forensics, mobile device, and internet forensics). At Securex, the gunshot detection system was integrated into a control room in an ICP REVA Security vehicle as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which could be used to automatically fly out to where a gunshot was detected.

Risk Diversion Director Peter Fryer told ProtectionWeb that the drone can deploy autonomously within four seconds to investigate a gunshot. As Triangula sends cursor on target (CoT) data, any drone capable of receiving such data can be used to respond.

At the Securex demonstration, drone footage was being fed to a control station that was also linked with dashcam, body cam and other data to provide a complete command and control picture. Fryer explained that the system can do numberplate recognition, mobile phone detection, and more.

Also being showcased by Risk Diversion was the innovative Protectile less lethal solution. Designed to render conventional bullets less-lethal, when attached to a firearm it encases the factory ammunition in a plastic ball in order to avoid fatal injury. The plug of the Protectile is inserted into the muzzle of the barrel and a live round is fired. The lethal bullet is captured safely within the Protectile, hitting its target at about 100 joules – this equals a hard punch from a boxer. Effective range is up to ten metres. Protectile is an affordable less-lethal solution, uses existing weapons and ammunition, and allows for use of live rounds after firing the Protectile.

Risk Diversion specialises mainly in digital forensic services, and to this effect offers facilities for computer forensics, mobile forensics, video and audio forensics and cyber security, intelligence and analysis. The company has been working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) on digital forensic services since 2002. Its primary focus is on providing forensic services to law enforcement and security companies across the sub-Saharan African region.
https://www.protectionweb.co.za/industry/gunshot-detection-goes-mobile-app-turns-phones-and-smartwatches-into-instant-security-sensors/

Aztec: Four decades of engineering excellence in aerospace, defence, and security
For over 40 years, South African-based Aztec has proven to be a key supplier of aerospace, defence and security solutions to the private and public sectors throughout southern Africa and beyond, with a key focus on power systems, blast-protected (energy absorbing) seating solutions, armoured glass, and other ground and aerial vehicle systems and sub-systems.

Aztec’s reputation is built on long-standing relationships with major organisations such as Armscor, Denel, the South African Air Force, Army, and Navy, as well as numerous private Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) both locally and internationally.

“The company’s commitment to quality and technological advancement has made it a preferred supplier for state-of-the-art products that meet the rigorous demands of modern defence and security operations,” said Dean Marcus, Aztec Director and engineer.

Aztec’s portfolio is a blend of imported technologies and locally designed and manufactured solutions, all of which are combat-proven and engineered to perform in the most demanding environments. Key offerings include:

High-performance batteries for aircraft, drones, fighting vehicles, ships, and other defence applications

Power distribution units, heavy-duty alternators, and advanced battery management systems

Aircraft ground power units and mobile air-conditioning units

Blast-protected seating solutions, armoured glass, and lightweight ceramic armour

Rubber bladder fuel tanks and self-sealing fuel tank coatings

Over the years, Aztec has been at the forefront of the transition from nickel cadmium to maintenance-free lead acid batteries in aircraft and, most recently in 2025, converted a defensive ground system in the same manner. This shift not only addresses the scarcity and high maintenance costs of nickel cadmium batteries but also enhances operational efficiency and sustainability.

Aztec’s engineering prowess is further demonstrated in the development of advanced ground power units (GPUs), such as the latest 28V DC mobile GPU tailored for the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet, and a 28V DC diesel-powered, air-transportable GPU designed for a Spanish medium cargo aircraft.

Some of Aztec’s major achievements include the conversion of nearly all South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft from nickel cadmium to lead acid batteries; the design and installation of fixed 400Hz and DC ground power units at SAAF bases around the country; the design and development, together with international partners, of the combination ground power unit and air-conditioning unit for the Gripen fighter jet; and the design and manufacture of portable and vehicle mounted DC aircraft starters for a variety of aircraft including the Rooivalk attack helicopter and Oryx utility helicopter.

Collaborating with international partners, Aztec has also supplied hundreds of sets of state-of-the-art certified armoured glass and frame sets for South African designed military vehicles manufactured both locally and abroad. Also on the landward side, the company has integrated blast-protected seating solutions into multiple South African manufactured armoured vehicles. These solutions, extensively tested and certified overseas, have also been tested locally by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Innovating with tactical aerostats
The latest addition to Aztec’s already expansive product range is the tactical aerostat — a modern tethered balloon system equipped with sophisticated payloads including cameras, communications, and relay equipment. Designed for easy transport and operation as well as rapid deployment, these aerostats provide cost-effective, extended surveillance and reconnaissance at altitudes up to 500 meters. Their gyro-stabilised payloads offer 360-degree observation, making them ideal for border management, base protection, crisis response, and homeland security.

Unlike small UAVs, which are limited by flight duration, tactical aerostats deliver continuous surveillance, allowing UAVs to be used more strategically for targeted interventions. This synergy enhances wide-area security solutions, ensuring persistent situational awareness for critical operations.

In addition to aerospace, defence and security, Aztec also works with the energy storage, mining and telecommunications industries. It represents a number of global industry leaders in the aerospace and defence industry including EnerSys, Oshkosh AeroTech, Mobius Protection Systems, and Magam Safety. Aztec is southern Africa’s leading aerospace and defence battery specialist and is accordingly South African Civil Aviation Authority approved.

“Aztec’s four-decade journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a deep commitment to its customers, and a passion for engineering solutions that safeguard and empower. As the demands of the aerospace, defence, and security sectors continue to evolve, Aztec remains dedicated to delivering the advanced technologies and trusted support that its partners have come to rely on,” Marcus concluded.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/industry/industry-industry/aztec-four-decades-of-engineering-excellence-in-aerospace-defence-and-security/

Denel Overberg Test Range back in the black
Denel expects its Overberg Test Range (OTR) in the Western Cape to be profitable over the next three years thanks to a healthy order pipeline, including a possible satellite launch.

In its 2025-2026 Corporate Plan, tabled in Parliament in June, the company predicts a R9 million profit for the Denel OTR in 2025/26; a R4 million profit in 2026/27, and a R5 million profit in 2027/28.

This is on the back of over R400 million in planned sales over the next three years, with major orders and campaigns either signed or projected from entities including the South African Department of Defence, Halcon, Diehl Defence (IRIS-T), Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), Pronex, University of KwaZulu-Natal (rockets), and Milkor (Milkor 380 UAV). The Republic of Singapore is expected to once again use the range for its Brightfire live fire exercise (the 2024 edition at the Denel OTR involved the RBS 70 missile, for example).

There are more potential orders Denel is pursuing for the test range, but these have a low probability of being secured, and are worth over R100 million cumulatively. They are with Canada’s International Test Pilots’ School (ITPS); Aselsan and Paramount; the Brazilian Navy; Viettel/Vietnam Navy; France (Exercise Oxide); United States (Exercise Shared Accord); Skyrora (UK rocket company); Rocket Factory Augsberg; Saab (RBS 70); and Russia and China (Exercise Mosi).

Denel is also looking at space capabilities, including the completion of a locally designed, manufactured and launched satellite and upgrade of the Overberg Test Range for satellite launches, tracking and testing for national space initiatives. South African National Space Agency and Department of Science and Innovation funding will be used to ensure the Overberg Test Range is ready to launch a first satellite in 2028. “This will strategically position South Africa to develop a sovereign space launch capability,” according to Denel’s Corporate Plan.

Denel expects to secure a contract with the University of KwaZulu Natal with funding from the Department of Science and Innovation to the amount of R16 million per year between 2025/26 and 2027/28 for space-related activities.

In its Corporate Plan, Denel identified a number of risks to the Overberg Test Range’s future, including insufficient capital expenditure, lack of critical skills, and instrumentation and infrastructure failures resulting from inadequate spending during 4-5 years of its liquidity crisis brought on by state capture. However, Denel believes it has sufficient cash available to maintain planned instrumentation and infrastructure, and aims to fill critical vacancies during the 2026 financial year and phase the rest in during the following financial year.

Apart from the Denel Overberg Test Range, most Denel divisions are expected to be profitable over the next three years, including Denel Aerospace and Integrated System Solutions (ISS). Denel Dynamics and PMP are expected to move from losses to profit, whereas Landward Systems is expected to post losses over the next three years.

As a group, Denel has reported a R223 million (unaudited) profit for the 2025 financial year, after a loss of R532 million in 2024. The group expects a R155 million loss in 2026, a R45 million loss in 2027, and a R92 million profit in 2028, according to its presentation to Parliament.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/denel-overberg-test-range-back-in-the-black/

Throwback Thursday: SA SF in Mozambique in 2024, as part of SAMIM.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/somalia-receives-t-129-attack-helicopters-from-turkey/

Somalia receives T-129 attack helicopters from Turkey.

With continued Turkish support Somali will soon have a more modern and better equiped military than Kenya. Especially the navy.

Tinfoil:
With continued Turkish support Somali will soon have a more modern and better equiped military than Kenya. Especially the navy.

RDM wins largest ever order in its history for artillery ammunition
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has been awarded the largest ever order in its history, worth hundreds of millions of euros, for 155 mm Assegai artillery rounds and charges.

The multi-year contract is from a European NATO country and was booked in the second quarter of 2025, Rheinmetall said in a statement. Deliveries will begin in 2025 and conclude with final delivery in 2027.

The Assegai 155 mm projectiles and bi-modular propelling charges will be integrated into the customer’s artillery weapon systems, delivering range capability of more than 40 000 metres “with optimal performance in the target area”, the company said.

“The Rheinmetall Assegai user group is growing rapidly across the globe, and we are delighted that another customer has now also selected Rheinmetall Assegai to be delivered fast and in volume,” said Dr Frank Dirksen, CEO of Rheinmetall Denel Munition.

The Assegai projectile suite consists of ballistically matched High Explosive, Practice, Insensitive Munition High Explosive, Illuminating, Infrared Illuminating, Smoke, Pre-formed Fragmented (PFF) and Rocket-Assisted (V-LAP) projectiles. Rounds are compatible with 39 to 52 calibre weapon systems and designed according to JBMoU principles; the Assegai family can be fired from any NATO STANAG-compatible artillery system, including the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer. With a barrel length of 39 calibres, an Assegai base bleed projectile attains a range of over 30 kilometres. Fired from a 52-calibre barrel, the range can exceed 40 kilometres (a 2019 record shot reached 76 km with a V-LAP round).

The tactical modular charges of the Assegai series are fine-tuned to the customer’s specific weapon systems and artillery shells for maximum effectiveness, RDM said. Their modular design simplifies logistics and makes handling in self-propelled artillery systems easier. They also offer other advantages: Assegai charges reduce barrel wear and produce lower muzzle flash; the former results in longer barrel life, the latter makes the artillery system harder for the enemy to detect.

RDM has received multiple Assegai orders over the years from customers including Australia, the Netherlands, Hungary, and unspecified NATO and non-NATO militaries.

“Rheinmetall Denel Munition is a proud member of the South African defence industry, employing more than 2 500 workers across South Africa. Major multi-year contracts like this provide us the ability to continue on our growth path which contribute directly to the South African economy,” said Dirksen of the record order. RDM’s supply chain involves more than 1 500 domestic suppliers which reach more than 250 000 South Africans.

The Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall has been increasing its production capacity since 2022, and aims at producing around 1.5 million 155 mm artillery shells per year by 2027. Due to the huge demand for artillery ammunition, Rheinmetall continues to expand its production facilities and establish new ones for 155 mm projectiles and charges. In South Africa, this has seen the creation in June of a new entity, Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd, which specialises in plant engineering for chemical applications.

RDM’s record order comes on the back of a major 155 mm ammunition order for a local customer worth tens of millions of euros that was announced at the beginning of June.

The group as a whole is seeing huge growth, with the Weapon and Ammunition segment of Rheinmetall achieving record sales of €599 million in the first three months of 2025, exceeding the previous year’s figure by €237 million or 66%. The increase compared to the same period of the previous year is attributable in particular to higher ammunition deliveries. Important projects included orders for artillery ammunition for NATO and European countries, as well as increased sales of tank ammunition, the group said in May.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/rdm-wins-largest-ever-order-in-its-history-for-artillery-ammunition/

FPV drones locally manufactured can be a big source of income because it's not going to be long before some conflict pops up somewhere and they will buy buy buy.

If African countries manufactured ammunition they would make a killing from the ukraine war

South African Startup AURA Disrupts Emergency Response With Global Expansion Plans
In a country where emergency assistance is often delayed or ineffective, South African technology startup AURA is redefining access to private security and medical response. Founded by Warren Myers, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer, the platform enables the dispatch of the nearest vetted emergency responder via a seamless API integration, and is now scaling its model globally.

Originally launched to address South Africa’s overstretched public safety infrastructure, AURA today serves over one million monthly active users across the country. The system connects users in distress with private armed response and ambulance services, achieving response times as low as three minutes. The platform has since expanded to Kenya, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with further rollouts planned for India, Sri Lanka, and Latin America.

“We wanted to democratise access to emergency response,” said Myers, “Only a small percentage of the population in many countries can afford traditional alarm-based private security. We built AURA to change that.”

API-Based Marketplace Model

Unlike traditional safety apps, AURA operates on a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model. The company provides a backend application programming interface (API) to insurers, banks, telematics platforms, and third-party safety applications, including Uber, Discovery, FNB, MyWay, and Samsung. When an alert is triggered through any of these services, AURA’s system locates and dispatches the nearest available responder from its partner network.

Each responder is equipped with a locked Android device running AURA’s software, enabling machine-to-machine communication and location tracking. A central 24/7 control room monitors and supports all call-outs.

To build its supply network, AURA initially paid responders a flat monthly fee to adopt the technology, regardless of call volume. This helped establish the platform’s footprint before consumer traffic increased, giving AURA an early-mover advantage. Key private response firms now on the network include Fidelity ADT, CSI, and Axon, among others.

Expanding Into Global Markets

AURA is now addressing a different challenge in developed countries, police forces in the US and UK increasingly refuse to respond to unverified alarms due to high false alarm rates. In regions such as the United States and the United Kingdom, police have significantly reduced responses to residential and commercial alarm activations.

In the US, where states like Texas have over 12 million monitored homes, AURA is being deployed to fill the verification gap. It dispatches trained, vetted private guards to assess potential threats before authorities are involved. The service is currently being rolled out in 12 major US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and Seattle. In the UK, AURA has operated for three years using a gig-economy model, deploying licensed guards for first-response verification.

AURA refers to its growing international network as a “global safety network”, and is in active discussions with partners such as ring.com and Rapid Response, whose alarm monitoring services handle millions of alerts each day.

Technology-Neutral, Impact-Focused

Despite its growing footprint, AURA remains platform-agnostic. “We don’t build apps, we don’t sell panic buttons, and we don’t manufacture cameras,” said Myers, “We just close the loop, technology detects crime, but humans must respond.”

AURA estimates that it is currently saving five lives per day in South Africa alone. Documented cases include the prevention of gender-based violence, near-drownings, and support during premature childbirths. Beyond personal safety, the system is also deployed for telecom tower protection, university campuses, and other fixed infrastructure.

Strategic Outlook

Looking ahead, AURA plans to expand its global emergency response API, allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), travel insurers, wearable tech companies, and multinational firms to offer integrated safety support for customers and employees worldwide. The system will intelligently route incidents to either private responders, where public services are lacking, or to state emergency services, particularly in countries like Japan or Switzerland, where public systems remain reliable.

Expansion into India, Sri Lanka, and Latin America is planned for 2026. These regions are seen as high-priority due to high rates of gender-based violence, under-resourced public services, and growing urban populations.

As global emergency response infrastructure faces mounting strain, AURA’s private-sector, technology-driven model is being positioned not just as a South African success story, but as a potential global standard.
https://www.protectionweb.co.za/technology-and-innovation/south-african-startup-aura-disrupts-emergency-response-with-global-expansion-plans/

CSIR develops new ground-based surveillance radar
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a new radar system for ground-based detection, which can be deployed on its Meerkat wide area surveillance system.

The Meerkat currently uses a Reutech Radar Systems RSR 904 radar but the new CSIR developed unit is more cost effective. Meerkat combines the radar with day and thermal cameras for 24-hour operation, and information analysis software that is able to detect, track and classify people entering certain areas. It can monitor up to 200 square kilometres at a time.

The new Ground-based Surveillance and Classification Radar (GSCR) developed by the CSIR is able to classify targets – for example distinguishing between animals and humans, and may thus be able to operate without the Meerkat cameras that currently aid in identifying and classifying targets. The GSCR’s goal is unattended automated operation, with a game ranger, for example, obtaining a notification of an intrusion on a cell phone.

The new GSCR radar uses C-band electronically-steered antenna technology for improved sensitivity and better target classification. It is available in 4 km, 7 km and 10 km variants.

It was developed with support from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The CSIR is aiming the new radar at the Border Management Authority, for counter-rhino poaching, and other applications.

The CSIR sees the radar, and its Tyto, Otus and RINO cameras, as building blocks potentially forming part of a larger family of surveillance radar systems for wildlife protection, border safeguarding, counter-crime on farms and in suburbs, key point security, counter air intrusion etc.

The CSIR has a long history of radar development, and is working on numerous radar projects at the moment, such as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for unmanned aerial vehicles, and has delivered a radar-based drone detection system to armasuisse (Federal Office for Defence Procurement) in Switzerland (SAMURAI: Swiss African MUltistatic RAdar Initiative). The CSIR’s most notable recent radar project is the Quadome, developed in conjunction with Hensoldt South Africa. This is the biggest local radar project in many years, and has already secured an export customer (the UK’s Royal Navy).
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/csir-develops-new-ground-based-surveillance-radar/