Operating at supersonic speeds, the Umkhonto utilises infrared homing technology to provide point and limited local air defence against multiple attacks of aircraft and missiles.

[3] Denel initially developed the Umkhonto to equip the four Valour-class frigates of the South African Navy with an anti-air capability, with the first successful naval launch achieved in 2005 from SAS Amatola.

The South African Army has also invested in the project as part of a programme to replace the obsolete, and now retired, Cactus mobile short-ranged ground-based air defence system.

[6] The Umkhonto has a set of tail-mounted, aerodynamic control fins, as well as thrust vectoring vanes in the motor nozzle (similar to Denel's A-Darter AAM), allowing for 40g manoeuvring.

Even after the lifting of UN sanctions, the international high-end missile systems, such as the United States Aegis programme, were unaffordable for South Africa, whilst the lower-end cheaper alternatives were deemed not satisfactory enough.

The naval version of the Umkhonto-IR, developed alongside the frigate acquisition programme of the Strategic Defence Package 1999, saw successful testing being carried out from the SAS Amatola in November 2005.

[10] Denel Dynamics, in collaboration with the Finnish Navy, have undertaken a joint development programme of enhancing the Umkhonto-IR, specifically adapting the missile for superior capability when operating in the Baltic Sea.

The South African Army is currently undertaking a programme to field a mobile short-range ground-based air defence system (GBADS), known as the Protector Project.

The GBL is a versatile, compact and mobile surface-to-air vertical launching system (VLS), similar to the naval application, that provides 360 defences against simultaneous air attack from aircraft and missiles.

[13] [14] Performance Characteristics The first variant of the Umkhonto surface-to-air missile, the Block I, was initially developed in response to the South African military requirement to upgrade existing short-ranged aerial defence capability.

In 2002, soon after production began and before final testing was concluded, the Finnish Navy signed a multi-million rand contract for the supply of the Umkhonto missile and associated fire control equipment.

The contract represented a major coup for the South African defence industry as the bid was selected ahead of far more established North American and European rivals.

Unveiled at the Africa Aerospace & Defence International Exhibition in Cape Town in 2010, the Block II is a product of deep cooperation between Denel Dynamics and the Finnish Navy.

At the 2017 International Defence Exhibition and Conference in the UAE, the Extended Range Umkhonto was announced, and if brought to fruition represents a significant step for Denel.