The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR's) wind tunnels are currently very busy with two international contracts, Aeronautics Competency Area manager Kaven Naidoo told Engineering News Online on Thursday. Aeronautics falls under the CSIR's Defence, Peace, Safety and Security (DPSS) division.

"One is a 24-month programme," he reported. "The contract is in the defence and security area, so we can't give any details."

The first phase of this contract, which was won last year, involved the development of test hardware and the upgrading of the wind tunnel facilities. The actual test phase will start in the near future. The contract will run into 2020. The second contract is with Swedish company Saab Aeronautics.

"The result of the upgrading undertaken under this contract is that we now have greater capabilities than before and can now offer clients a wider range of wind tunnel services," he highlighted. "We currently have other contract negotiations under way with potential international clients. International contracts do require undertaking measured risk, but they also bring opportunities."

Meanwhile, partnerships have been successfully established regarding some of the other technologies developed by the CSIR DPSS Aeronautics Competency Area. A partnership with South Africa's largest private sector defence group, Paramount, regarding the CSIR's Long-Endurance Modular Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (better known as the LEMU) was announced at the  2018 Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition last September.

Partners have also been secured for the CSIR's Inundu airborne electronic warfare test and evaluation pod. Some of the partners provide systems for use in the pod, or services associated with it. Collectively, they are currently looking at various market opportunities.

"However, all these projects are still at the stage of seeking orders," noted Naidoo. "Only once a contract has been won can commercial production start."