Engineering consulting, CAD design, prototyping, and flight testing for UAV requirements that off-the-shelf platforms cannot meet. Based in Gariep, Free State — built and flown in-house.
When DJI isn't the answer — non-standard payloads, unconventional configurations, NDAA-compliant supply chains, classified programmes, or first-article flight testing of experimental designs. We take on the projects that off-the-shelf cannot solve.
In-House Platforms
Built & Flown In-House
Our own platforms are the proof of process — designed, fabricated, integrated, and flight-tested under one roof. The same capability is available for your programme.
Mantaray V1
30 kg Heavy-Lift Quadcopter
Removable carbon fibre boom architecture for compact transport. Disassembles to backpack-portable configuration, reassembled by a single operator in minutes. Large, low-KV motors and long-chord propellers deliver high efficiency and a very low acoustic signature.
Endurance (no payload)
60 min
Endurance (8 kg payload)
40 min
Endurance (14 kg payload)
15 min
GCS Range
13 km LOS
Cruise Speed
50 km/h
Conditions
Light rain · −5–50°C
Handheld GCS: 1080p live feed, gimbal and payload control, HDMI out
Full autonomous stack: waypoint missions, RTL, geofence, signal-loss failsafe
Multiple payload and battery configurations
Mantaray V2
Folding-Boom Rapid-Deploy Variant
Same platform as the V1 with a tool-free folding boom system. Arms collapse and lock without fasteners. From transport case to airborne in under three minutes by one person. Light rain rated with forced concealed cooling to manage electronics temperature in demanding conditions.
Endurance (no payload)
60 min
Endurance (8 kg payload)
40 min
Endurance (14 kg payload)
15 min
Deploy Time
<3 min
GCS Range
13 km LOS
Cruise Speed
50 km/h
Conditions
Light rain · −5–50°C
Tool-free folding booms — no hardware required to deploy or stow
Hot-swappable battery — clips in and out in seconds, no tools required
Enclosed battery bay protects cells from rain and direct sun heat exposure
Light rain rated with forced concealed cooling for all-condition reliability
Pelican-style transport case included as standard
Skipjack
5 kg High-Speed All-Weather Quadcopter
Compact, high-speed platform built for agility and all-weather resilience. Capable in conditions that ground most commercial systems. Enclosed battery bay for fire safety and weather protection.
Max Speed
125 km/h
Endurance
20 min
Max Payload
2 kg
GCS Range
13 km LOS
Wind Rating
35 km/h
Conditions
Heavy rain · −5–50°C
Heavy rain capable — fully enclosed electronics and battery bay
Same 13 km GCS with 1080p live video feed
Full autonomy stack: missions, RTL, geofence, failsafes
Engineering Services
Design, Analysis & Flight Test
Contract engineering and consulting for aerospace and defence organisations. Bring a concept, a problem, or an airframe that needs flying — we cover the full scope from CAD and structural analysis through to first-article flight test and production design.
First-Article & Experimental Flight Testing
First-article and experimental flight testing across a wide range of airframe types and configurations — tailsitter and quadplane VTOLs, tilt-rotors, swashplate helicopters, and fixed-wings from 3 kg to 90 kg. RPL-licensed on 4,000+ ha of private airspace with the workshop directly adjacent. Parameter setup, gain tuning, and envelope expansion from first hover to full-speed validation.
Flight Controller Tuning & Configuration
Seven years on PX4 and ArduPilot across unconventional and high-performance airframes — tilt-rotors, tailsitters, quadplanes, swashplate helicopters (petrol and electric, 5–300 kg), and fixed-wings to 250+ km/h. Parameter setup, gain tuning, autonomous mission programming, failsafe logic, and custom flight modes. The founder pilots first flights where required.
CAD Design & Structural Analysis
SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360. Full mechanical design from concept to production-ready drawings — load path analysis, structural optimisation, DFM, and tolerance stack. Airframe, mechanisms, and payload mounting systems.
In-House Fabrication
CNC routing, laser cutting, FDM 3D printing, and machining. Carbon fibre and aluminium components fabricated in-house — CAD to parts without third-party lead times.
Payload & Sensor Integration
Any sensor or payload integrated directly with the flight control system and datalink — thermal and multispectral cameras to custom electronics. Protocol bridging, telemetry, and triggering handled end-to-end.
Customer-Specified Electronics
Datalinks, flight controllers, and onboard electronics specified to customer requirements, export regulations, or existing ground infrastructure. NDAA-aware sourcing available.
UAV System Integration
Payload integration, gimbal design, tether systems, electronics harness design, and full system qualification testing.
Design for Manufacture
Design datapacks optimised for series production. Tolerances, load paths, and scalable assembly processes for repeatable low-volume manufacturing.
Professional 3D Rendering
Photorealistic renders for marketing, proposals, and design review. Product visualisations, exploded views, and environment scenes from CAD models or concept briefs.
Classified Programme Experience
A significant portion of consulting work involves platforms that cannot be disclosed publicly. Past programmes include high-speed fixed-wing systems, large VTOL platforms, advanced gimbal systems, and custom launcher development. Details available under NDA.
The Facility
Capable Manufacturing Facilities
Secure & Confidential
Remote Gariep location, perimeter-secured, no public access or through-traffic. Sensitive programmes, first-article prototypes, and classified platforms tested without exposure. NDA-ready for proprietary airframe development.
4,000+ ha Private Test Area
Extensive private airspace directly adjacent to the workshop. Test, observe, return, adjust, and re-fly without moving from site. Sufficient space for high-speed and long-range flight test operations.
Off-Grid Power
Fully solar-powered. No load-shedding impact — operations continue regardless of grid supply.
Full Machine Shop
CNC router, laser cutter, FDM 3D printers, and hand tooling. CAD to parts without third-party lead times.
Field Operations
Tested in the Field. Not on Paper.
Tested in the Karoo — dust, heat, cold, wind, and rain. Performance figures reflect actual flight data, not lab estimates.
Who We Are
Proudly South African. Built for Real Work.
Deltatech Aero is a South African UAV engineering and consulting company headquartered in Gariep, Free State. We take on the programmes that off-the-shelf platforms cannot solve — custom configurations, unconventional airframes, non-standard payloads, and first-article flight testing for aerospace and defence clients.
The full development stack is in-house: mechanical design and CAD, electronics integration, flight controller configuration, fabrication, and flight testing — in a private, secure facility with 4,000+ hectares of dedicated test airspace. Problems found in the air are solved on the ground the same day.
Our own platforms — Mantaray and Skipjack — are the proof of process. The same capability is available to external clients as contract engineering, consulting, or flight test services.
Core Expertise
Full UAV Development Lifecycle
Concept through to commercial deployment — mechanical, electronics, firmware, and flight test under one roof.
Mechanical Innovation
Quick-release and hot-swap battery systems, folding boom architectures, vibration isolation, and rotorcraft dynamics.
RF & Telemetry Systems
Antenna placement optimisation, datalink integration, and robust communication links for long-range operations.
Power Systems & Flight Safety
EMI mitigation, worst-case load testing, and autonomous failsafe features including geo-fencing, RTL, and precision landing.
The Founder
Scott Rosslee
Scott Rosslee is a South African aeronautical engineer and UAV flight test specialist with seven years of hands-on experience across an unusually broad range of configurations — tailsitter and quadplane VTOLs, tilt-rotors, swashplate helicopters from 5 to 300 kg (petrol and electric), and fixed-wings to 250+ km/h. On most programmes, Scott is the pilot for first flights and flight controller commissioning.
BSc Aeronautical Engineering, Wits. Three years post-graduation at Bronberg Dynamics on large UAV platforms, followed by ongoing contract work for aerospace and defence organisations. Deltatech Aero was founded in 2024 and currently operates three production platforms, with systems delivered to multiple clients and five or more classified programmes completed.
Deltatech Aero is actively seeking investors and strategic business partners to scale manufacturing and expand the product line.
Consulting enquiries, contract engineering, flight testing, platform procurement, investment, or business partnership — open to the conversation. NDA available on request.
