Omanghana
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) plans to open a production line for its locally developed LongClaw glide bomb in the second half of 2027, expanding its South African manufacturing operations into munitions designed primarily for military drones.
Chief executive Maximilian Froch told DefenseWeb that small quantities are already being assembled manually ahead of the planned production launch. The weapon has also undergone evaluation on several unmanned aerial vehicle platforms in recent months.
LongClaw is a lightweight, precision-guided munition intended principally for drones, although it can also be carried by crewed aircraft. Its reported glide range is approximately 15 kilometers when released from an altitude of about 4.9 kilometers, or 16,000 feet.
RDM displayed a mock-up at the 2026 Africa Aerospace and Defense exhibition at Air Force Base Waterkloof in September. Development began in early 2025, with the company seeking opportunities in the domestic and international markets.
Froch said the weapon was designed entirely in South Africa and that most components would be manufactured locally. The project draws on RDM’s existing ammunition technology and production experience.
The company is jointly owned by Germany’s Rheinmetall, which holds a 51 per cent stake, and South Africa’s state-owned Denel, which owns the remaining 49 per cent.
The planned facility would move LongClaw beyond its current small-scale assembly phase, positioning RDM to pursue a larger role in the market for drone-launched munitions.
Source: Omanghana
