At the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025, Turkish defence electronics leader ASELSAN and South African industrial conglomerate Pamodzi Group formalised a memorandum of understanding that could reshape the landscape of communications equipment for the region’s armed forces. Under the terms of the agreement, Pamodzi will manufacture two‑way combat radios and an array of other communication devices entirely in South Africa. This collaboration draws upon ASELSAN’s local presence, established in 2011, and cements its commitment to crafting solutions tailored to the continent’s unique security needs.
During a ceremony marked by high‑level diplomatic participation, ASELSAN Chief Executive Officer Ahmet Akyol and Pamodzi Group Manager Freddy Leketi affixed their signatures to the accord. They were joined by South Africa’s Ambassador to Ankara, Her Excellency Dipuo Letsatsi‑Duba, and Deputy Minister of Defence Bantubonke Holomisa. Their presence underscored the partnership’s strategic dimension, extending beyond commercial interests to represent a broader framework of cooperation between Turkey and South Africa in defence technology development. Political endorsement at this level not only lends credibility to the venture but also paves the way for enduring collaboration and effective technology transfer.
Central to the alliance is a robust commitment to technology transfer. Rather than simply shipping completed equipment to South Africa, ASELSAN and Pamodzi will undertake comprehensive local production initiatives that encompass workforce training, detailed sharing of technical documentation and joint research and development projects. Such an approach aims to cultivate enduring technical capability within South Africa’s defence industry, aligning with national policies that prioritise local manufacturing, economic growth and strategic autonomy in critical technology sectors.
South Africa’s defence and security sector has advanced with the local production of Aselsan’s Astela 3710 radios, a project led by the Pamodzi Group in partnership with Aselsan. This effort stems from a 2016/17 directive by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), which sought to reduce the country’s dependence on imported two-way radios. Government entities like the police, defence force, correctional services, and state-owned enterprises, along with the private security sector, had been spending heavily on foreign systems.
Mike Kgobe, head of Pamodzi Group’s Aviation and Defence Systems division, noted that the dtic’s push for localization aimed to address this reliance, though the local industry initially struggled to meet these demands. As a result, National Treasury and the dtic often had to issue exemptions to procurement rules for radio purchases. To tackle this challenge, Pamodzi Group teamed up with Aselsan to produce the Astela 3710 radios in South Africa. The process involves importing semi-knockdown kits from Turkey, which are then assembled and tested locally by Pamodzi BMG Electronic Communications, a joint venture created for this purpose. Pamodzi Aviation and Defence Systems owns 60% of the venture, while BM Global Defence Systems, a black-owned investment holding company, holds the remaining 40%.
Since 2016, BM Global has been part of the Defence Transformative Enterprise Development incubation programme, overseen by Armscor under the Department of Defence. This collaboration goes beyond assembly, focusing on building local skills and capacity. Pamodzi BMG Electronic Communications oversees production to ensure the radios meet both local requirements and international standards, while BM Global’s involvement highlights a commitment to supporting black-owned businesses in the defence sector. The partnership also works with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for regulatory compliance and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for electromagnetic spectrum testing facilities. The Astela Apco 3710 radios are built for versatility and toughness, suited to South Africa’s varied operational needs.
They offer multiple communication modes, including simplex for direct radio-to-radio contact, direct mode using repeaters for greater range, and wide area conventional and trunk systems for extensive network coverage. Their compatibility with older analogue FM radios allows users to switch to digital systems without replacing existing gear. Designed for harsh conditions, the radios meet MIL STD 810G standards and have an IP67 rating, protecting them from extreme temperatures, high humidity, low pressure, sand, and dust. They also feature an integrated GNSS module for location tracking via GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellites, with options to send location data manually or automatically in all digital modes. Bluetooth support adds compatibility with accessories, boosting their utility. These qualities make the radios a dependable option for public safety and critical missions, complementing Aselsan’s wider range of communication tools, such as repeaters and tethered drone mobile relay systems. Aselsan South Africa, set up in 2011 after acquiring a local engineering firm, brings significant expertise to this effort. Originally focused on high-end electro-optical systems for military aviation, it has developed products like thermal imagers, multi-spectral sensors, in-flight boresighting systems, and targeting payloads.
The company sees South Africa as a stepping stone to expand across Africa, leveraging the country’s economic strength, infrastructure, and strategic location. Globally, Aselsan excels in tactical military radios, electronic warfare, avionic upgrades, and defence electronics, mainly serving the Turkish Armed Forces, though exports are increasingly vital. Its expertise spans radar, satellites, cyber security, air and missile defence, land weapons, electro-optical systems, and traffic automation, enabling it to adapt solutions for markets like South Africa. This local production initiative represents a major shift toward self-sufficiency in South Africa’s defence and security technology.
Pamodzi’s established manufacturing infrastructure, skilled labour pool and deep familiarity with South African regulatory standards make it the ideal partner to integrate ASELSAN’s advanced communication and electronic warfare technologies into homegrown production. This model promises a series of tangible benefits: lower procurement costs through local assembly, greater supply‑chain resilience by reducing dependence on foreign shipments, and the creation of skilled jobs that contribute to wider industrial development objectives.
The suite of “game‑changing” technologies that ASELSAN brings to the table likely spans its core competencies in electronic warfare, radar systems, battlefield management solutions and communication equipment. These capabilities promise to fill performance gaps within South African forces while establishing a domestic manufacturing base capable of producing cutting‑edge hardware at scale. By embedding these technologies within a South African production footprint, the partnership positions the country to pursue regional defence contracts with greater self‑reliance and competitive pricing, turning South Africa into a strategic gateway for accessing broader African markets.
Africa’s evolving security environment, characterised by diverse threats and a growing demand for locally supported defence solutions, presents a wealth of opportunities for indigenous manufacturers. ASELSAN’s longstanding South African operation—now entering a new phase of co‑production with Pamodzi—gives it a competitive edge in markets that prize reliable local support and cost‑effective solutions. The collaboration’s scalable structure means that as demand rises across the continent, the factories and workforce developed under this MoU can swiftly expand to meet new orders, all while maintaining the strategic autonomy that governments increasingly seek in defence procurement.
More than a dozen South African defence companies are in Istanbul for the IDEF 2025. South Africa has established a national pavilion at IDEF 2025, an effort coordinated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme. Among the South African companies showcasing their capabilities at IDEF 2025 are SVI, Imperial Armour and Fimm Tech, alongside Unipro and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. QP Drone Tech and Redeployable Camp Systems SA will also be on hand, as will Swatek Defence and Aerospace, Armscor and Fuchs Electronics. Reutech, Etion Create and Bullet Proofing Technology will present their latest innovations, supported by Dynateq International and Reutech Communications. In addition, the organisers of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) expo are attending IDEF to build momentum for their next event, scheduled for September 2026.