The September 22 edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition and Show, the continent’s largest, which took place in South Africa, came to a close last Sunday. The event attracted experts, companies and aviation enthusiasts.
Despite the cold weather conditions, hundreds of attendees flocked to admire impressive displays, get up close and personal with aircraft and learn about the latest aviation technologies.
A regular attraction at these tech shows is Spot, the robotic dog. Cape Town-based Deep Tech Solutions got creative with a different use for the robot.
“Speaking of technology and also man’s best friend, part of the work we do with Spot, Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog, is helping people perform advanced remote inspections. If you think about search and rescue operations, which you often see in the mining sector, but also in disaster management, where the military is also heavily involved, we need to be able to identify the risks in the area, but also sometimes give some comfort to the victims that help is on the way,” says Rethabile Letlala, representative of Deep Tech Solutions.
Next-generation weapons were also on display.
The five-day trade and exhibition of African aerospace and defence brought together a panel of local and international guests looking for opportunities in the South African defence industry.
Martin Venter of ECM Technologies points out that the event attracts a global audience.
“What makes AAD (Africa Aerospace and Defence) unique is the fact that it is a South African initiative that brings together international communities. I mean, we have India, the US, the UK. Everyone is coming together and showcasing what they have to offer. It’s really interesting to see,” he said.
The Chinese hardware presence was more pronounced at this edition of the air show, which usually hosts a larger number of American arms. However, the US military has pulled out of the event.
The next edition will be held in 2026.
While offering insights into technological advancements and international relations in the field of defence, this event showed once again how South Africa is a hub for the aerospace and defence industry on the continent.