Aerial Works
Aerial Works, founded in 2017 in South Africa, manufactures UAVs (including the SRV22E VTOL fixed-wing drone) and command vehicles, runs a CAA-approved pilot training organisation, and delivers turnkey drone surveillance programmes for military, police, mining, critical infrastructure, and insurance clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersGauteng, South Africa
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aerial Works does
Aerial Works is a South African drone security company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng. It designs and manufactures UAVs (multi-rotor platforms and the SRV22E VTOL fixed-wing drone with 2+ hour endurance, IP55 rating, and optional ADS-B), builds mobile command-and-control vehicles with airband radio and battery-managed pilot stations, develops flight-planning and post-mission analytics software, and operates a CAA-approved Aviation Training Organisation (ATO). Its primary customers are military, police, private security companies, and operators of mines and other high-value sites, with a secondary insurance and risk-management segment that uses drones for underwriting, claims, and catastrophe-loss work.
The product surface spans the SRV22E VTOL fixed-wing drone, multi-rotor drones for sub-5 km operations, custom command-and-control vehicles, custom drone-operations software, and CAA-approved training courses (Remote Pilot Certificate and BVLOS Rating). Operational deployment combines human-piloted surveillance with computer-vision–based monitoring and adaptive patrol routing fed by an in-house data asset of thousands of accumulated BVLOS patrol hours over high-risk South African sites. AI and ML capabilities are positioned as differentiators (predictive crime analytics, reinforcement-learning-driven patrol routes, agent-based modelling of crime displacement) but proprietary validation of those models is not yet disclosed.
Aerial Works monetises across four streams: managed drone-security programmes (pilots, vehicles, drones, ops management sold as multi-year contracts), hardware sales of in-house manufactured UAVs and command-and-control vehicles, turnkey implementation with skills transfer, and CAA-approved professional pilot training. Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed, bundled into per-shift economics that include pilot wages, vehicles, insurance, batteries, uniforms, and maintenance. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting South African SOEs (Transnet, Eskom, Prasa), listed mining majors (Sibanye-Stillwater), private security firms, and insurance/risk managers via RFQ and tender responses; books (Drone Professional 2 and 4, both Amazon #1 bestsellers) and content marketing reinforce thought leadership. The operating base is lean (1-10 disclosed employees), and the company has no disclosed external funding.
Aerial Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aerial Works
- Legal name
- Aerial Works
- Website
- https://aerialworks.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Aerial Works, founded in 2017 in South Africa, manufactures UAVs (including the SRV22E VTOL fixed-wing drone) and command vehicles, runs a CAA-approved pilot training organisation, and delivers turnkey drone surveillance programmes for military, police, mining, critical infrastructure, and insurance clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aerial Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drone Security Services
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Flight Training (611512), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft (3721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) (IMABAIAB), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL), Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)
Keywords
Where Aerial Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gauteng
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aerial Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Drone Security Operations: Full-service drone security surveillance including pilots, vehicles, drones, and operational management. BVLOS patrol hours over high-risk areas for crime prevention.
- Pilot Training Services: Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) offering RPC certification and BVLOS ratings approved by Civil Aviation Authority. Training for multirotor and VTOL fixed-wing drones.
- UAV Manufacturing: Manufacturing of multi-rotor and VTOL fixed-wing drones customized for security applications, including the SRV22E model.
- Command & Control Vehicles: Design and build of mobile command and control vehicles serving as operational hubs for drone deployments.
- Turnkey Drone Implementation: End-to-end drone operation solutions including equipment provision, implementation, management, and skills transfer to client teams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise drone security programs with full-service offerings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Aerial Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aerial Works provides turnkey drone security solutions for the military, police, private security, and mining sectors in South Africa. The company manufactures multi-rotor and VTOL fixed-wing UAVs (including the SRV22E), builds custom Command & Control vehicles, develops drone operation software, operates BVLOS surveillance patrols, and runs a SACAA-approved Aviation Training Organisation offering Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) and BVLOS Rating courses.
Product overview
Aerial Works provides a comprehensive portfolio of drone security solutions consisting of hardware products (Multi-Rotor drones, SRV22E VTOL and other VTOL Fixed-Wing drones, Command & Control vehicles), software solutions, and training services (Remote Pilot Certificate and BVLOS Rating training). The company offers turnkey drone operations implementation, combining equipment provision, management, and skills transfer. Their Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) is CAA-approved and provides professional drone pilot certification. The SRV22E VTOL is their flagship fixed-wing product featuring 2+ hours flight time, waterproof IP55 rating, and ADS-B capability. Their service offering spans from drone manufacturing and pilot training to complete operational implementation for military, police, private security, and mining sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SRV22E VTOL Fixed-Wing Drone Revolutionary VTOL fixed-wing drone combining quadcopter agility with extended fixed-wing range. Features 2+ hours flight time, 1kg payload capacity, waterproof IP55 rating, 8m range lidar landing assistance, ADS-B equipped (optional), aviation lights and strobe lights. Designed for tough African conditions and security operations exceeding 5km radius.
- Multi-Rotor Drones UAVs designed for security operations requiring coverage within a 5km radius. Engineered for tough African conditions and short-range surveillance missions.
- Command & Control Vehicles Custom-built mobile command centers for drone operations featuring ergonomic pilot stations, airband radios (50km+ range), ground force coordination monitors, battery management systems with inverters, and antenna installations including GSM/satellite options.
- Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) Training CAA-approved qualification course required for commercial drone operations in South Africa. Covers aviation legislation, meteorology, human factors, navigation, practical flight training, and radio telephony for commercial drone pilots.
- BVLOS Rating Training Advanced endorsement training for operating beyond visual line of sight. Covers risk assessment, detect-and-avoid procedures, command & control protocols, emergency systems, redundancy planning, and BVLOS simulation.
- Turnkey Drone Security Operations Full-service managed drone security surveillance including pilots, vehicles, drones, and operational management. BVLOS patrol hours over high-risk areas for crime prevention, targeting military, police, private security companies, and mines.
- Turnkey Drone Implementation Services End-to-end drone operation solutions including equipment provision, implementation, management, and skills transfer to client teams for smooth transition to unmanned aerial solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Thousands of BVLOS patrol hours logged over high-risk areas
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Aerial Works
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Aerial Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Aerial Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Women and Drones AfricaminorHosting the 5th virtual exchange themed 'New Horizons: How the Drone Industry is Changing and Fostering Gender Equality in Aviation' with Kim James moderating.
- GIZminorPartnership for virtual exchange event promoting gender equality in aviation and drone industry across Africa.
- AIfEminorAfrican partner for virtual exchange event on gender equality in drone industry.
- AB4IR (Africa 4 Innovation)minorDrone Diva training program funded by Goethe Institut and delivered by Inspire Africa. Aerial Works provided employment opportunities to program graduates including Veronica Nkosana.
- Goethe InstitutminorFunded the Drone Diva training program through AB4IR for youth and women development in drone technology.
- Inspire AfricaminorDelivered the Drone Diva training program as part of AB4IR initiative for youth development in drones.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aerial Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fortem Technologies: Fortem Technologies provides airspace security and drone-based perimeter protection for critical infrastructure, defense and public safety. Comparable on the autonomous, AI-driven surveillance angle and the critical-infrastructure customer set that Aerial Works serves with Transnet, Prasa and Eskom.
- Rocketmine: Rocketmine is a South African commercial drone operator offering aerial surveying, inspections, security and surveillance across mining, infrastructure and agriculture. Most directly comparable peer: same geography, same enterprise customer verticals (mining, infrastructure), same drone-services business model, and same SACAA regulatory environment.
- Easy Aerial: Easy Aerial provides autonomous drone security and surveillance solutions for perimeter security, critical infrastructure and defense. Closely comparable to Aerial Works' managed drone-security program: same target buyer (enterprises and government), same delivery model (drone-in-a-box / mobile command), and same security vertical focus.
- Sunflower Labs: Sunflower Labs provides autonomous drone-in-a-box perimeter security for high-value residential and commercial properties. Comparable managed drone-security service model and similar enterprise/customer orientation, though more US/Europe-focused.
- Nightingale Security: Nightingale Security offers autonomous aerial security as a service using drones for perimeter monitoring and rapid response. Directly comparable: recurring security-as-a-service revenue model, same enterprise/government customer profile, and same drone-patrol-with-ground-force integration.
Emerging players
- DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy is a drone-data platform used for mapping, inspections and analytics across construction, energy and infrastructure. Comparable on the software-for-drone-operations layer (Aerial Works has its own Drone Operation Software) and on enterprise inspection workflows; Aerial Works already uses DroneDeploy in its training programs.
- Shield AI: Shield AI builds autonomous AI-piloted aircraft for defense and security operations, including Hivemind autonomy software. Emerging player in the same broad autonomous-UAV-for-security/defense category, with much greater scale and capital; relevant comparable on the AI-driven autonomous drone direction Aerial Works is pursuing with its crime-displacement research.
Regional players
- Skyriders (by DroneScan): Skyriders is a South African drone services provider focused on industrial inspections, mining, and infrastructure. Regional peer with comparable BVLOS-style inspection services and shared SACAA regulatory context, but more weighted toward inspection than security.
Broad incumbents
- Parrot SA: Parrot is a European drone manufacturer with a strong enterprise/security line ( ANAFI series). Comparable on the UAV manufacturing side and the professional/security end-market; a much larger, publicly listed incumbent with broader product portfolio.
- DJI Enterprise: DJI Enterprise is the dominant global manufacturer of commercial multi-rotor and enterprise drones used across security, inspection and surveying. Broad incumbent comparable on the manufacturing side (Aerial Works builds drones) and on serving security/inspection end markets, but at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aerial Works social profiles
Digital presenceAerial Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aerial Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Aerial Works subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Aerial Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aerial Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aerial Works
What does Aerial Works do?
Aerial Works provides turnkey drone security solutions for the military, police, private security, and mining sectors in South Africa. The company manufactures multi-rotor and VTOL fixed-wing UAVs (including the SRV22E), builds custom Command & Control vehicles, develops drone operation software, operates BVLOS surveillance patrols, and runs a SACAA-approved Aviation Training Organisation offering Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) and BVLOS Rating courses.
Is Aerial Works a public or private company?
Aerial Works is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aerial Works founded?
Aerial Works was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Aerial Works based?
Aerial Works is headquartered in Gauteng, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Aerial Works make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Drone Security Operations are the primary driver. The others are pilot Training Services, UAV Manufacturing, command & Control Vehicles and turnkey Drone Implementation.
Who are Aerial Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fortem Technologies, Rocketmine, Easy Aerial, Sunflower Labs and Nightingale Security. Emerging players are DroneDeploy and Shield AI. Skyriders (by DroneScan) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Parrot SA and DJI Enterprise.
Does Aerial Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aerial Works.
What industry is Aerial Works in?
Aerial Works's product category is Drone Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAC, VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms, with a secondary code of IMABAIAB, Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV). Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3728.