HENSOLDT South Africa: Local innovation, global solutions for a safer world

Company

About us

HENSOLDT South Africa draws on nearly 60 years of innovation, offering a diverse range of advanced products, solutions and services for both defence and civil markets. Our expertise spans electronic warfare, optronics, spectrum monitoring, security solutions, radar, IFF and datalinks. With a dedicated workforce of approximately 800 employees across four sites in South Africa, we are the HENSOLDT Group’s largest industrial outside of Germany and one of Africa's leading defence and security electronics companies.

Key figures

60

products and solutions

800

employees

4

sites

A legacy of expertise

HENSOLDT South Africa builds on nearly 60 years of defence technology expertise, drawing from a heritage shaped by renowned companies like GEW Technologies, Airbus DS Optronics and Tellumat.

South Africa has long been a leader in defence innovation, with HENSOLDT South Africa’s founding fathers pioneering electronic warfare in the seventies, contributing to the country’s first radar development and developing world-class optronics for the Rooivalk combat helicopter in the eighties.

In 2019, HENSOLDT South Africa was established, uniting these legacy companies under the HENSOLDT brand to continue delivering world-class solutions for defence and security.

1960s

HENSOLDT South Africa’s roots trace back to pioneering companies, two of which were founded in the sixties. Plessey South Africa, established in 1963, was the precursor to HENSOLDT’s Radar business unit, contributing to South Africa’s first radar systems.

SATI, founded in 1968 and forerunner of the GEW business unit developing the first compact process control computer in South Africa and pioneered first-of-its-kind electronic warfare technologies. Both form part of HENSOLDT today and shaped our innovative defence capabilities.

HENSOLDT South Africa’s leadership

Rynier van der Watt

Managing Director

Rynier van der Watt is the Managing Director of HENSOLDT South Africa, leading the HENSOLDT Group’s largest industrial base outside of Germany. Under his leadership, HENSOLDT South Africa has become one of Africa’s leading defence electronics companies, excelling in technologies such as optronics, radar, and spectrum management.

With over 25 years of experience, he has built and grown successful technology businesses, serving in roles from founder to CEO. A qualified engineer and entrepreneur at heart, Rynier is passionate about leadership, strategy and mentoring future talent. Outside work, he enjoys endurance sports such as triathlons and cycling and is dedicated to developing people and fostering innovation.