The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has acquired six Delair UX11 fixed-wing drones, enhancing wide-area monitoring along the country’s 2,700-kilometre borders. Finalised in late 2025, the deal supports Uganda’s layered intelligence strategy against groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Weighing just 1.4 kilograms, the UX11 is portable and modular, assembled in under five minutes. It launches by hand at a 30-degree angle and lands via automated low-speed belly recovery, eliminating the need for runways. Endurance reaches 59 minutes at 54 km/h, mapping up to 200 hectares per sortie, with an extended battery option pushing endurance to 80 minutes.
Dual communication links—2.4 GHz radio for line-of-sight and 3G/4G cellular for BVLOS—ensure flexible operations, while a 21-megapixel global shutter camera and PPK GNSS provide high-accuracy imagery. The Android-based Delair Flight Deck app manages mission planning and telemetry.
The UX11 bolsters Uganda’s ongoing operations, including Operation Shujaa, targeting ADF fighters in eastern Congo. With insurgents increasingly using commercial drones for attacks, the UX11 provides essential reconnaissance, tracks supply routes, and reduces troop exposure, demonstrating the growing role of UAVs in Africa’s security landscape.
