The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will partner South Africa on manpower training, procurement of equipment and joint military exercises with a view to building a formidable air force.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar said this in Kaduna on Friday at the ongoing 2nd Nigeria Air Exposition, organised as part of activities to mark the 48th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force. Umar expressed satisfaction with the participation of foreign companies at the expo, especially African countries, and said that bilateral relations had been signed with a host of them.

"Our discussions bordered on bilateral cooperation in the areas of training, operation and equipment. "We have had lots of requests from our sister African countries in terms of training, equipment and collaboration in military exercises.

"We are looking at those requests and when they go through the proper channels, the Nigerian air force will be ready to oblige them." Earlier, the Chief Director, Air Policy and Plans of South African Air Force, Maj.-Gen. Zakes Msimang, commended NAF for the high level of professionalism and enthusiasm displayed during the event.

Msimang assured that the South African Air Force would work with NAF to built a powerful and formidable air force in Africa that would meet global standards. "I must be honest; I am overwhelmed by the level of professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by the Nigerian Air Force.

"From what we have observed, we can see a platform of collaboration through which we can put more effort to ensure that we built a formidable air force in Africa."

Lt.-Col. Toure Abdelaziz , Deputy Chief of Air Staff of Niger Republic, said his country would like to partner with NAF in training and maintenance of military equipment.

"The air expo is very rich and we saw the capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force and therefore, seek collaboration in training and maintenance", Abdelaziz said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that service chiefs from 22 countries, participated in the one-week event.

Some of the participants came from Uganda, Pakistan, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, Guinea Bissau and the Republic of South Africa. Also in attendance were Rwanda, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Brazil and India.

frosbel

What kind of English are you writing and speaking. Who Has The Strongest Military On Africa. It should be which country has the strongest military in Africa. Speak proper English if you are going to speak English at all.

The main reason Egypt has a powerful army is because they receive 1 billion dollars from the USA every year with which they must spend on weapons and hardware produced in the USA. Israel also receives about 1 billion dollars every year. That is why the Egyptians have M1A1 Abrams tanks, Cobra Helicopters etc. The Israelis also use the 1 billion dollars to buy M16 carbines and F16 Fighter Jets. I am not saying that they do not use their internal revenue to purchase armaments.

The Nigerian Military is very weak and unstable. Nigeria does not produce any of its heavy equipment. In 52 years Nigeria has not produced body armor for its servicemen talk less of tanks, or warships. Every piece of military hardware is imported and acquired through " hand me down procedures". Except for small military industry involving rifle and machine gun production and ammunition fabrication.

loco4love: frosbel

What kind of English are you writing and speaking. Who Has The Strongest Military On Africa. It should be which country has the strongest military in Africa. Speak proper English if you are going to speak English at all.

The main reason Egypt has a powerful army is because they receive 1 billion dollars from the USA every year with which they must spend on weapons and hardware produced in the USA. Israel also receives about 1 billion dollars every year. That is why the Egyptians have M1A1 Abrams tanks, Cobra Helicopters etc. The Israelis also use the 1 billion dollars to buy M16 carbines and F16 Fighter Jets. I am not saying that they do not use their internal revenue to purchase armaments.

The Nigerian Military is very weak and unstable. Nigeria does not produce any of its heavy equipment. In 52 years Nigeria has not produced body armor for its servicemen talk less of tanks, or warships. Every piece of military hardware is imported and acquired through " hand me down procedures". Except for small military industry involving rifle and machine gun production and ammunition fabrication.

Israel get way more than 1 billion and it is only around 15% of there budget. They spend a insane amount on defense. Then again so would any body if surrounded by enemy's. Apartheid SA spend 4.7% on defense now only 1.3% witch may go up to 2%.


Even so SA is the only county in Africa to produce advanced weapons such has attack helicopters, missiles, tanks, ships extra. We going to build 9 new ships all build in south africa. And that 1.3% of GDP gives us the second largest defense budget(we don't have Egypt's USA military aid).

We are not the best but we are one of the best

Ethiopia bought 200 tanks recently
http://stratsisincite./2011/06/13/ethiopia-to-buy-over-200-tanks-from-ukraine-worth-100-million/

International financial institutions rank Ethiopia as one of the fastest growing economies but debates rage over its political strategy and regional role

As business and political leaders descend on Addis Ababa for the World Economic Forum on 9-11 May, Premier Meles Zenawi’s government will be trumpeting its economic achievements. Visitors expecting a war-torn land scarred by continuing famine will be shocked. Yet the economic claims of the government, the World Bank and other international agencies (which depend on state cooperation) deserve closer analysis. On several big issues, Meles has become the voice of Africa and de facto leader of the New Partnership for African Development. He attends Group of 8 and G-20 meetings, says the right things about climate change and gets on well with United States President Barack Obama and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron on Somalia.

In cold statistics, Meles’s government – in power for 21 years – has presided over a formidable economic turnaround. A recent World Bank report suggested that Ethiopia navigated the global economic crisis in 2008-9 better than many others. Modest declines in exports, remittances and foreign investment have recovered to more than pre-crisis levels. The International Monetary Fund recently suggested that Ethiopia could join the middle-income countries if its rapid growth continued. All this follows government claims of average 11% annual economic growth for the last eight years. When pressed, IMF and World Bank officials concede the government’s calculations are ‘optimistic’ but ‘not by more than 1 or 2%’.

In November 2010, Ethiopia launched an ambitious five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), aiming to improve the economy, incomes and social indicators. The government finds Western models largely irrelevant, as was made clear at the opening of the new Chinese-built headquarters of the African Union in January. Meles talks of a ‘Democratic Development State’ on the lines of Taiwan, South Korea and (in the background) China.

Critical outsiders talk of ‘developmental authoritarianism’, lumping Ethiopia with Rwanda as its leading exponents. The idea is that the central government keeps a tight grip on political and social freedom, invests heavily in roads, power plants and communications, and promotes access to markets for small-scale producers. Apart from concern about political freedom, outside critics argue that developing states cannot credibly take on that role, even if backed by lavish Chinese finance.

Another great leap forward
The GTP assumes average growth of 11% at worst and 14.9% at best, doubling the size of the economy by 2015 and matching China’s accelerated growth in the 1990s. It would involve doubling agricultural production, significant increases in industrial production (notably in sugar, with ten new factories), fertiliser, cement, metals, textiles and leather goods. Infrastructure plans include over 2,000 kilometres of railway and 88,000 km of new roads. Hydropower would increase by 8,000 megawatts to 10,000 MW, distributed to 75% of Ethiopia with the possibility of exporting to the rest of Africa and the Middle East. The target is to increase mobile telephone access to reach 45% of the population, a quadrupling of usage but still below South Africa and Nigeria.

Critics say the lack of competition in Ethiopia’s telecommunications sector and lack of internet access are still holding back development. Overall, the aim is to reduce the incidence of poverty from 29% (2010) to 22%. Larger objectives are defined as attaining high growth within a stable macroeconomic framework – in a stable, democratic, ‘developmental state’.

The Horn of Africa suffered its worst drought in decades in 2011. This year’s March to May rains began late and will be below the long-term average; these short belg rains reduce annual food production by up to 30% in northern areas and by 40-50% in the south. A second successive dry year will increase regional food insecurity, especially in the south and east where some 3 million people now get food aid.

Exporting is more difficult because Ethiopia has no port but export earnings for the first eight months of the fiscal year showed a 16% rise on the previous year, with increased earnings from gold and oil seeds (Ethiopia is now the world’s fourth largest exporter of sesame). The main earner, though, is coffee exports, which fell from 122,000 to 75,000 tonnes. The government’s biggest problem is inflation, now at an annual average of 40%. Civil servants and teachers had pay rises last year, but below 40%. Even the director general in a ministry gets only 5,000 birr (US$285) a month. The price of tef, the basic grain, has doubled in the past year, while food prices have more than quadrupled. Blaming this on corrupt profiteering, the government made a brief, unsuccessful attempt to cap prices by order and increased public-sector salaries.

In early February, Meles claimed that inflation had fallen to 32%, saying he hoped it would drop to single figures by July or August. Yet February saw another surge to 36%, then a fall again in March. In early April, he still claimed that control measures were working. He again blamed external factors but tacitly accepted some responsibility by admitting the government had cut public borrowing and was controlling the money supply.

Local oppression
Some authority has been decentralised to district and local administrations which, some say, can be more oppressive than central government. Much control is organised through the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), whose successes in the 2008 local and the 2010 national elections swept away the opposition parties.

An effort is under way to mobilise domestic savings. The government insists that the 78 bn. birr needed to fund the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Abay/Blue Nile River (see Box, Running water, vaulting ambition) will be met internally though the sale of bonds and other resources. It is also trying to identify cuts to make without harming the whole. The customs authority is being reorganised and attempts made to maximise tax collection. The government is even preparing to take on the Mercato (market) in Addis Ababa, where it is estimated that half Ethiopia’s financial transactions take place in 18,000 legal businesses and 9,000 illegal ones.

In 2011, the tax department took 50.8 bn. birr, 15 bn. up on the previous year; the first seven months of this fiscal year showed a further increase of 12.5 bn. birr. One much-criticised scheme is the drive to develop commercial agriculture by large-scale land leases to foreign companies: some call it land-grabbing. The government has identified 3 mn. hectares available for large-scale production of food or other crops, with nearly 1 mn. hectares of marginal land for bio-fuel crops: jatropha, castor, oil palm and pongamia. Last year’s overall fuel bill was $1.7 bn., up by 25% on 2009-10; it is likely to be higher this year, as tension between Sudan and South Sudan cut off supplies. There are plans to increase ethanol production from the sugar factories now being built.

Another policy international which non-governmental organisations criticise is the resettlement programme which would disrupt the traditional lifestyle of pastoralists – but give them secure livelihoods. In Gambella, Benishangul and Somali regions, 125,000 households have been resettled. On official figures, Ethiopia has reduced rural poverty, improved life expectancy, raised levels of education and other social indicators. The government says it is poised for take off with its large labour force and low wages. Yet the big political questions remain: how much freedom and accountability will the government allow? How fairly will the fruits of faster growth be spread?

Food, housing and water are deemed more important than democracy and trade unions. ‘We’re a fairly tough regime, no one denies that,’ says an official in Addis, privately. He makes Ethiopia’s world view clear: Eritrea is a menace; Somalia is not a cosy neighbour; the Oromo Liberation Front makes threatening noises but is in complete disarray. Foreign NGOs such as Human Rights Watch have difficulty entering the affected areas and horror stories emerge from the refugee camps about periodic political crackdowns.

Human rights training for the police has made little impact; trainees know that toughness is expected and that includes those trained by British specialists, whose contracts have been started, cancelled, then resumed. Meles talks of a democratic development state: it is likely to prove more developmental than democratic

Since the First World War, the need for air supremacy has been a central part of conflict, from the earliest fighter aces dogfighting over the trenches, through the Battle of Britain to the modern fast jets patrolling no-fly zones in Libya.
The other constant factor in military aviation is the fact that the role and requirements of aircraft is always changing and evolving. The rise of unmanned drones patrolling the lonely skies of Afghanistan is the latest example of such evolution.

And sometimes these roles fall out of fashion as needs change and then return several decades later.

This is happening today: the changing nature of conflict is seeing a resurgence of aircraft capable of fulfilling the armed ISTAR role: Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance . In other words, aircraft which can be your eyes and ears, and a strike threat, in the skies above a conflict zone.

This ability was in great demand during the Vietnam War but then fell out of vogue. Now, with the days of set piece battles confined seemingly to the past and the rise of counter-insurgency (COIN) operations, the ISTAR role is of vital importance again.

Recent and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan are positive proof of this. In Afghanistan, a mix of vast areas of desert and farmland laced with unforgiving mountain ranges, Coalition Forces have had to adapt their fast jet combat aircraft for the counter-insurgency role.

The UK and France have even been using their valuable fourth-generation Typhoon and Rafale fighter aircraft to search for and destroy soft targets on the ground during the Libyan campaign. At a cost of more than US$100,000 per flying hour there has to be a more cost-effective solution to the COIN role.

The US Air Force realized this when it issued a Light Armed/Armed Reconnaissance tender for its new envisaged COIN air commando unit, and a Light Air Support requirement for the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps – with both intended to be in theatre by 2013.

These programmes called for fixed-wing single-engine turboprop platforms, with a number of critical requirements for the winning aircraft to fulfill, including the capability of landing on rough ground without support, dual controls, ejection seats, specific air-to-ground weapons and systems and a defensive-aids system.

Two contenders were adaptations of basic trainer aircraft, the Brazilian Super Tucano and the US AT-6B Texan II, while a third was a modified agricultural crop sprayer. None were designed as armed reconnaissance/counter-insurgency platforms, although an outsider was: Boeing’s reworking of the original North American Rockwell Bronco, dubbed the OV-10X.

The Bronco’s service life began during the Vietnam War and it played the COIN/ISTAR role to a tee. Almost 50 years later, it has proven to be a hard act to follow - continuing to operate with air forces in Colombia, Venezuela, Indonesia and the Philippines for example.

The US projects have stalled, albeit perhaps only temporarily, but the need for a purpose-built COIN/ISTAR aircraft remains – particularly one that is priced attractively given today’s economic conditions. We hope that believe our new aircraft, AHRLAC (Advanced High-performance Light Attack Aircraft) provides the perfect fit.

The two-crew aircraft can stay in the air for up to 10 hours – far longer than fast jets – and carry out forward air control, policing, anti-smuggling patrols, disaster relief and emergency supply to remote areas in addition to the surveillance/counter-insurgency roles.

Meanwhile its highly flexible form of “clip-on-clip-off” payload systems enables it to switch quickly between operational roles. Powered by a P&W PT6A turboprop, it has high cruise and dash speeds, and range of 1,150 nautical miles on internal fuel making it ideal for patrolling large areas.

It can also be deployed in the bush, thanks to its short take-off and landing (STOL) capability from rough, remote landing strips.

AHRLAC can also provide an affordable alternative to unmanned aerial vehicles, in both military and civil applications.

The launch of AHRLAC marks a technological triumph for South Africa and the continent as we will be designing and manufacturing our own aircraft and can benefit from the jobs and economic growth associated with a new era in aviation.

Achievements by the South African government since 1994 under a black government

Fast Facts & Quick Stats About South Africa

Political

According to the Open Budget Index 2010, South Africa has the most transparent budget in the world. (International Budget Partnership)

South Africa is the only African country that is a member of the G20.

South Africa ranks 5th overall on the 2011 Ibrahim Index which measures the quality of African governance, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Botswana and Seychelles took the first four places out of 53 (Mo Ibrahim Foundation)

South Africa ranks 28th out of 167 countries surveyed in the 2011 Democracy Index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ahead of France, Italy, Greece and all of the other BRICS countries. WorldAudit.org ranks South Africa as the 43rd most democratic country in 2011.

In the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Survey of Democratic Freedom, South Africa ranks 31st out of 184 countries.
According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2010/11, South Africa has the 34th most efficient government out of the 139 countries ranked.

WorldAudit.org ranks South Africa as the 47th least corrupt nation out of 150 nations surveyed in 2011, ahead of Italy, Greece and all the other BRICS nations. Transparency International ranks South Africa 64th out of 150 countries in its corruption perception index 2011.

South Africa ranks as the 61st strongest state out of 177 countries in the Fund for Peace's Failed State Index 2011. The index measures state vulnerability based on 12 social, economic, political and military indicators.
In terms of the Global Competitiveness Report 2012, South Africa’s biggest improvements over the past year have been Reliability of police services (we moved from 104 to 95); Brain drain (we moved from 62 to 48); Intensity of local competition (we moved from 63 to 49), Availability of latest technologies (we moved from 51 to 39 and Gross national savings as a % of GDP (we moved from 98 to 72).

"Personal satisfaction" with the country's democracy rose from 49% in 2008 to 60% in 2011, according to the continent wide Afrobarometer research group.

Economic

In 2012, at 5.5%, South African interest rates were at a 30-year low.

South African Tax Revenue has increased from R100 billion in 1994 to R742.7 billion in 2011-12.

South Africa’s debt to GDP ratio is 32% (USA 100%, Japan 200%, UK 90%). The World Bank recommends a ratio of 60%.

SA ranks 1st among upper middle-income economies in the World Bank “Connecting to Compete 2012: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy” report. Overall, SA ranks 23 out of 155 countries included in the Logistics Performance Indicators (LPI). Its main competitor on the African continent, Nigeria, is ranked 121.

South Africa sold $1.8 billion worth of cars to the US in 2010, putting us ahead of Sweden and Italy as suppliers to the US market. Car sales are projected to grow 10% in 2011 to 460,000 units. South Africa exported 36.9% more vehicles in 2010 than 2009.

The South African stock market rose 16.09% in 2010, ranking 8th out of the G20 nations and ahead of all of the G7 countries (Bespoke Investment Group).

South Africa is ranked 1st out of 142 countries in respect of regulation of security exchanges according to the World Economic Forum Global Competetiveness Report 2011/12

South Africa is ranked 1st in respect of auditing and reporting, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12.

South Africa ranks 1st out of 60 countries in the Economist’s House Price index for the period 1997 – 2009.

South Africa's banks rank 2nd in the world for soundness, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12.

The South African Rand was the second best performing currency against the US Dollar between 2007 and 2011, according to Bloomberg’s Currency Scorecard.

SA ranked 1st in Platinum output, 2nd in Palladium output, 3rd in Gold output, 6th in Coal output and 9th in wool output. (Economist)

SA is ranked 2nd out of 183 countries for good practice in protecting both borrowers and lenders when obtaining credit for business (World Bank Doing Business Report 2011)

SA is ranked 3rd in the world for protection of minority shareholders interests, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12.

South Africa ranked 6th in house price improvement indices as a % change in 2009, and 1st as a % change 1999/2009. (Economist).

SA is ranked 10th out of 142 countries for Strength of Investor Protection, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12.

SA is ranked 10th out of 183 countries for good practice in protecting investors in business. (World Bank Doing Business Report 2011).

South Africa ranks 7th out of 45 countries in the "Big Mac Index 2012". The price of a Big Mac is 42% less in South Africa than in the USA. In Switzerland and Norway, it is 62% more.

South Africa is ranked 12th out of a total of 134 economies in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2010, ahead of many developed nations, including, the UK (15th), United States (19), Canada (20), Australia (23) and France (46).

South Africa ranked 15th in terms of "largest deficits" but as a percentage of GDP is not in the top 40 countries. (Economist).

The JSE ranks 16th in terms of "largest market capitalisation" and 19th in terms of largest gains. (Economist)
SA is ranked 23rd out of 81 countries in the Jones Lang LaSalle's "World's most Transparent Real Estate Markets" placing it well ahead of China, Brazil, India and Russia. "Robust governance, strong auditing and a developed legal system" were cited as the main reasons for leading the developing markets in this rating.

South Africa ranks 24th out of 192 countries in the Economist’s "Largest Gold Reserves" Index and 30th in terms of official US$ reserves.

In a survey of 192 countries, South Africa’s unemployment as a percentage of economically active population ranked 27th.

SA ranks 28th in terms of number of cars produced and 18th in terms of number of cars sold. (Economist).
South Africa is ranked 34th out of 183 countries for ease of doing business according to Doing Business 2011, a joint publication of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

South Africa ranks 41st out of 192 countries in the Economist’s "Biggest Exporters" Index.

South Africa ranked 50th out of 142 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12, up from 54th in 2010/11.

South Africa ranks 54th in a comparison of the overall tax burden of 150 countries worldwide.

South Africa ranks in the top 20 countries for agricultural output.

According to a survey of 62 countries by the World Bank and the IMF, South Africa has the 36th highest foreign debt, ahead of the US, Japan and all the European countries surveyed.The economist ranks South Africa 29th out of 60.

MTN has been ranked Africa’s most valuable brand in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2012 survey. MTN becomes the first and only African brand to make the list, debuting at position 88 in the world.
Tourism

The number of tourists visiting South Africa has grown from 3.9million in 1994 to 11.3 million in 2010.

South Africa is ranked among the top 5 countries in the world in respect of tourism growth (growing at 3 times the global average).

SA ranks 24th in terms of tourist arrivals at 11.3 million (France 79 million, UK 28 million, Switzerland 8.5 million, India 5.2 million). (Economist)

Cape Town was named the top tourist destination in the world in the 2011 Traveler’s Choice Destinations awards.

OR Tambo airport is the best airport in Africa, according to the World Airport Awards 2010/11. It was also in the top 3 most improved airports in the world for the same period.

27 South African beaches were awarded Blue Flags, an international indicator of high environmental standards for recreational beaches in 2010.

South Africa is ranked 66th out of 139 in the World Economic Forums Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2010/11.
Sport

South Africa was the first African country to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. It is only the second country in the world to have hosted the Cricket, Rugby Union and Soccer World Cups.

In 2009, the Springboks become the first international team to be World Champions in both 15-a-side and Sevens rugby.

South Africa is home to the world's largest individually timed cycle race (the Cape Argus Cycle Race), the world's largest open water swim (the Midmar Mile) and the world's largest ultra-marathon (the Comrades Marathon).

5 South Africans hold the world extreme swimming world record for swimming 2.5kms around Cape Horn.

Since the 1940’s, South African golfers have won more golf majors than any other nation, apart from the United States.
According to The Cricketer magazine, Newlands in Cape Town is second-best Test Match venue in the world in 2012. Lords was first.

Education

SA has 30,000 schools (7,000 secondary, 23,000 primary). In 1994 only 12,000 had electricity. Now 24,000 have access to electricity.

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is a pioneer of tertiary distance education and is the largest correspondence university in the world with approximately 300,000 students.

South Africa’s learner to teacher ratio has improved from 1:50 in 1994 to 1:31 in 2010.

The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) is the highest ranked African business school and is ranked 47th overall in the world (Financial Times Executive Education rankings 2012)

According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12, South Africa is ranked 13th out of 142 countries for it's quality of management schools.

61% of South African primary school children and 30% of high school children receive free food as part of the school feeding scheme.

The first MBA programme outside of the United States was started by the University of Pretoria in 1949.
Stellenbosch University was the first African university in the world to design and launch a microsatellite
297 new ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres have been set up and registered in the first quarter of 2011
Environmental

In 1991, South Africa became the first country in the world to provide full protection status　for the Great White shark within its jurisdictional waters. Countries including USA, Australia, Malta and Namibia followed suit later.

Cape Town has the fifth-best blue sky in the world according to the UK's National Physical Laboratory.

Johannesburg ranks 2nd among countries from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa in dealing with urbanisation and environmental challenges, in the MasterCard Insights Report on Urbanisation and Environmental Challenges.
South Africa is the only country to house an entire floral kingdom (Fynbos), one of only 6 on the planet.

The Vredefort Dome (or Vredefort crater) in the Free State, is the largest verified impact crater on Earth at between 250 and 300km in diameter and is estimated to be over 2 billion years old.

SA ranks 18th in terms of biggest emitters of CO², 9th as a proportion of GDP and 27th in terms of CO² per person. (Economist).

South Africa has the highest level of international certification of its tree plantations in the world. Over 80% of South African plantations are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa

All paper in South Africa is produced from plantation grown trees, recycled paper or bagasse (sugar cane fibre). Fibre is not sourced from the wood of rainforests, indigenous or boreal trees. This is a myth, often wrongfully perpetuated by e-mail footnotes. Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa
The proportion of the South African population using improved drinking water sources was 91% in 2010, up from 83% in 1990. (WHO/UNICEF, March 2012)
Social and Infrastructure

SA's population is the 27th largest in the world (there are 230 countries, only 80 have a population in excess of 10 million).

The current police to population ratio is approximately 1:308 (SAPS – April 2011). This ranks South Africa as the 9th best There are 195,000 in the employ of SA Police. There are 411,000 in the employ of private security companies. TOTAL 606,000. Divide by 49,000,000. Conclusion: for every 80 citizens there is someone looking after some or other aspect of safety and security. Or put differently 1250 security ‘officials’ per 100,000 citizens! (Business Day)
The percentage of the South African population with access to clean drinking water has increased from 62% in 1994, to 93% in 2011. Access to electricity has increased from 34% in 1994, to 84% in 2011.

In 2010, 13.5 million South Africans benefited from access to social grants, 8.5 million of which were children, 3.5 million pensioners and 1.5 million with disabilities. In 1994, only 2.5 million people had access to social grants, the majority of which were pensioners.

Since 1994, 435 houses have been built each day for the poor.

According to Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamimi of the 914 poverty alleviation programmes launched by government 232 have collapsed

Two South African cities were voted amongst the world's top 100 Most Liveable Cities in the 2010 study conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

Cape Town was ranked in 86th place and Johannesburg 90th

SA ranks 8th out of 142 countries on the Legal Rights index, (Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12).

SA ranks 30th out of 142 countries on property rights (Global Competitiveness Report 2011/12).

Johannesburg is ranked as the 87th largest city in the world. Tokyo is the largest with a population of 36 million (Economist).

SA ranked34 out of 192 countries in terms of infrastructure and 12th for our rail network.

South African media ranks 38th out of 178 countries in the Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2010, higher than France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and all of the other BRICS countries.

SA has the 18th largest prisoner to population ratio (USA is number 1).

In terms of total crimes recorded SA ranked 10th, USA 8th and the UK 6th.

Out of 230 cities surveyed around the world, Johannesburg ranks the 151st and Cape Town the 171st most expensive city for expatriates to live in according to the 2010 Cost of Living Standards Survey from Mercer Human Resource Consulting, ahead of Tokyo (2), Moscow (4), Hong Kong (, London (=17), Paris (=17), Tel Aviv (19), Sao Paulo (21), Sydney (24), Rome (26), New York (27), Dubai (55) and Auckland (149).

South Africa is the 19th largest producer of energy (economist)

SA’s has the 17th longest road network in the world and ranks 29th in terms of most used, but does not feature in terms of most crowded. (Economist).

SA ranks 25th in terms of "most air travel". (Economist)

According to Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti 90% of the land re-distributed to emerging farmers (approx 930 farms) is lying fallow and unproductive

SA’s rail network is ranked 11th in terms of longest networks and 9th in terms of millions of tons per km transported. (Economist)

SA ranks 24th in terms of "lowest divorce rate" per 100,000 of population. (Economist).

Health

14.7 million South Africans have been tested for HIV, 13 million in public health facilities and 1.7 million in private health care facilities, as part of the HIV counselling and testing (HCT) campaign

South Africa has 1 doctor per 1000 population and 3 beds per 1000 population (Spain 3 doctors per 1000 population and 3.4 beds, UK 2 doctors per 1000 population and 4 beds, South Korea 1.4 doctors per 1000 population and 7.1 beds, USA 2.7 doctors per 1000 population and 3 beds). (Economist)

South Africa ranked 4th in terms of HIV/Aids prevalence amongst population behind Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho. (Economist)

SA ranks 20th in terms of death per 1000 of population (15) alongside Russia, Afghanistan is at No 1 (18.2), UK ranks 58th (10). South Africa does not feature in the world’s 44 highest infant mortality rates. (Economist)

Miscellaneous

South Africa has 11 official, state wide, languages, more than any other country.

The only street in the world to house 2 Nobel Peace Prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street, Orlando West. SA ranks 7th in terms of number of Nobel Peace prizes. (Economist).

Two of the world’s most profoundly compassionate philosophies originated in South Africa – Ubuntu (the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity) and Gandhi’s notion of "Passive resistance" (Satyagraha), which he developed while living in South Africa.

The Western Deep Level mines are the world’s deepest mines at approaching 4km.

South Africa houses one of the three largest telescopes in the world at Sutherland in the Karoo.

South Africa is the first, and to date only, country to build nuclear weapons and then voluntarily dismantle its entire nuclear weapons programme.

SA ranks 12th in terms of beer consumption (China 1; USA 2; Russia 3; Brazil 4 and Germany 5).

SA has 45 million active cell phones (population 49 million) – ranking in the top 5 globally in terms of cell phone coverage.

SA has 66 colour TV’s per 100 households, 9 telephone lines per 100 population and 90 mobile telephone subscribers per 100 population. (Economist).

2 Cape Town restaurants are in the top 50 restaurants in the world according to the S.Pellegrino Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list 2010. La Colombe restaurant in Constantia, Cape Town, was voted the 12th best and Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek came in at 31

South Africa has 8.5 computers per 100 population (UK 80, Spain 40,South Korea 47 and USA 80). (Economist).
SA ranks 31st in terms of internet users per 1000 population. (Economist).
SA ranks 16th in terms of cinema visits per 1000 population. (Economist).
South Africa does not feature on the "brain drain" list of 20 countries. (Economist)

EXCELLENT FOR NIGERIA NAVY AND THE COUNTRY

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the NNS Andoni, Nigeria’s first locally built warship, and laid the keel for a second Seaward Defence Boat, which will be commissioned next year.

The commissioning ceremony was held at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard in Lagos on Friday and formed part of the week-long 56th anniversary celebrations of the navy. Jonathan said that the locally built vessel was a sign of the improvement of Nigeria’s armed forces. “This is the beginning of transformation and I believe that in another 10-15 years, we will be thinking of starting a project of taking Nigeria to the air. We have just started and we will continue,” he said.

“With the current repositioning of the country…already, a number of things are now being fabricated locally. I was in Lagos recently to inaugurate one of such; equipment for drilling and marine are currently being built locally. This is the beginning of transformation. There cannot be transformation without a technological revolution in the nation; this is the beginning.”

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim, said the construction of the NNS Andoni (P100) was a landmark event for the Nigerian Navy and a contribution to Jonathan’s transformation agenda. “It is a testimony to our commitment to local content regime. We will not disappointment the nation,” he was quoted by Nigeria’s Punch as saying.

Ibrahim added that the vessel was built to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards and would be used to enhance security on Nigeria’s waterways.

The governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, said that the NNS Andoni was a sign that the Nigerian Navy was improving is operational readiness and becoming more professional, reports Nigeria’s Vanguard.

The 31 metre long Seaward Defence Boat had its keel laid at the Naval Dockyard in December 2007, with full construction beginning in January the following year, according to Nigerian media. Between January 2008 and April 2009 the superstructure and shell were completed, but construction was delayed due to funding issues until Ibrahim approved extra funding. It appears the NNS Andoni is armed with a 20 mm cannon, possibly the Suncraft Ralco.

The vessel was conceived as a research and development project by Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye and Rear Admiral GJ Jonah, who were at the time Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Naval Engineering respectively.

Jonathan also laid the keel of another Seaward Defence Boat, which will be commissioned in the next 18 months, according to Ibrahim. The Nigerian Navy is expected to receive nearly two dozen new acquisitions under this year’s defence budget.

Jonathan recently approved the purchase of two new 1 800 t Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Nigerian Navy, which will use them mainly for maritime surveillance, patrol and response tasks. Other roles of the vessels would be protection of offshore assets, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol and surveillance, search and rescue and oil spill control.

The contract for the two OPVs was signed on April 18 this year, with China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Limited, the trade arm of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). The first will be built in China while around 70% of the second one will be built in Nigeria in order to enhance local capability through technology transfer. They will be delivered in around three years time.

The OPVs will be 95 metres long, with a draft of 3.5 metres. They will be powered by two MTU 20V 4000M diesel engines, giving a speed of 21 knots per hour, and will be armed with one 76 mm and two 30 mm guns. Crew complement will be 70 sailors and endurance 20 days. They will be able to carry and support a helicopter off a rear deck.

The 2012 Defence Budget Proposal makes provision for three Shaldag Mk III fast patrol craft, three 24 metre coastal patrol craft and six 17 metre Manta Mk II ASD littoral interceptors (total cost N2.2 billion/US$13.7 million). In addition, the purchase of helicopter and ship spares will amount to N1.04 billion (US$6.5 million), according to Budget Office documents.

The FY2011 defence budget approved the acquisition of two offshore patrol vessels, the refurbishment of six coastal patrol craft by TP Marine and the delivery of nine Manta Mk II ASD craft.

French shipbuilder OCEA is building the three 24 metre coastal patrol craft and commenced sea trials of the first vessel on March 13. Delivery is expected this month.

The Suncraft Group is expected to construct the six Manta Mk II ASD vessels, bringing the total ordered over the last several years to 21. The Manta Mk II first entered service with the Nigerian Navy in 2008.

Nigeria’s Navy is seeking government approval to acquire up to 49 ships and 42 helicopters over the next ten years to police the nation’s territorial waterways and Gulf of Guinea, according to Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim.

The Nigerian Navy has been allocated N69 billion (US$433 million) under this year’s budget while the Army has been allocated N122 billion (US$766 million), and the Air Force N64 billion (US$402 million), reports the Nigerian Budget Office. The navy has about 7 000 personnel.

The strength of a country's armed forces are not to be found in exibihition of armory, or better still displaying of pictures. The Nigerian Army does not go about displaying military equipments, what we do speaks for themselves. Even our Intelligence Agencies don't go about publicing or blowing their trumpets. It is a known fact that Nigeria has the best secret service in Africa and one of the best in the world, it is also a known fact that the Nigerian Army has one of the best infantries and combat ready troops in the world. So, my SA friends have better watch how they talk about our military might, no one prays for war, but I'm sure a trial will convince u guys. Lol

juniormomoh: The strength of a country's armed forces are not to be found in exibihition of armory, or better still displaying of pictures. The Nigerian Army does not go about displaying military equipments, what we do speaks for themselves. Even our Intelligence Agencies don't go about publicing or blowing their trumpets. It is a known fact that Nigeria has the best secret service in Africa and one of the best in the world, it is also a known fact that the Nigerian Army has one of the best infantries and combat ready troops in the world. So, my SA friends have better watch how they talk about our military might, no one prays for war, but I'm sure a trial will convince u guys. Lol

Good int service according to who. You got 2 rebel groups running around making you a laughing stock.

And the SANDF is not the one marketing all the gear. It is how defense industry(because they marketing) and out side analysts(doing there job)there is a lot that not known about like the ops room at silver mine, the Maritime damage control and fire fighting school, are less known but still out there the real secrets are still secret.

Best infantry really based on what standing on you head dose not make solders.

We dont mind people knowing what we have or what we can do it changes nothing.


Has for your claim Thai Nigeria military is super secret it is not. It just not main stream i have access to defense magazines and journals full of info on Nigeria.

South African company EWI2 has partnered with the China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) to produce the 8M wheeled mine resistant, ambush protected vehicle.

The 8M was unveiled at the China International Exhibition on Police Technologies and Equipment Expo (CIEPE) in Beijing at the beginning of last month.

The vehicle is powered by a 5.9 litre Cummins QSB diesel, manufactured in China by the Dongfeng Cummins Engine Co joint venture. The engine produces 281 hp, giving the 8 000 kg vehicle a top speed of 120 km/h.The 8M has seating for eight people or a payload of 2 500 kg. It can withstand a 7 kg mine blast under the hull and a 10 kg mine blast on any wheel.

EWI2 said that the 8M is the first success in a series of collaborative projects to be completed over the coming years by EWI2 and Norinco after the two companies established a cooperation agreement in 2010. “EWI2 is proud to be associated with Norinco and was one of the first South African companies to establish themselves in China in support of South Africa’s membership of the BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India and China] nations,” EWI2 said in a statement.

EWI2 said it had designed the 8M and adapted it to utilise local Chinese components, which “has resulted in a world class product from state of the art industrial facilities and with world wide product support capability.” The 8M will be marketed in China as well as to export markets.

EWI2 was established in 2008 as a company that specializes in implementing industrial ventures in the emerging world. The company says it primarily uses its own intellectual property with joint venture partners “to the benefit of both parties and countries involved”.

South African companies are becoming increasingly involved in the Chinese defence market. In July 2010 Emerging World Technologies (EWT) sold 31 multipurpose security vehicles to China’s Jixi municipal government for R72 million. EWT partnered with the state-owned China Special Automotive Group (CSAG) and was scheduled to supply 150 modular all-terrain system (MATS) vehicles to the Chinese company. The deal also included skills transfer.

In November 2010 Mobile Land Systems announced it had a R40 million contract to manufacture eleven mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles in conjunction with China’s Changan Industries. The deal included technology transfer. Changan was scheduled to take over manufacture and was licensed to build 289 more vehicles, with intellectual property being handed over to Changan for a fee.

Dewald Hattingh, the CE of Mobile Land Systems at the time, said that China may need as many as 10 000 MRAP vehicles to cover their internal needs and equip peacekeeping missions. The PLA is the largest military in the world mustering some three million soldiers, sailors and airmen, of whom some 2.5 million are in full-time service. It is said to operate over 8500 main battle tanks but just over 1000 infantry combat vehicles and 3500 armoured personnel carrier of various designs – and none are mine protected.

The South African Air Force is preparing to conduct an airspace security exercise in order to run through doctrine regarding airspace security and border patrolling. The annual airforce force preparation exercise, named Exercise Winter Solstice, is conducted to verify their combat readiness.

The exercise is taking place over the period 26 July to 4 August 2012. The area covered by this years’ exercise includes large parts of the North West Province, from the South African/Botswana border down to Orkney, along the Vaal River to Douglas in the Northern Cape and then up back up to the Botswana border.

Last year, Exercise Winter Solstice was conducted in the Eastern Cape during extreme winter conditions when over 500 SAAF personnel were deployed in the Bhisho area in the Eastern Cape. Then, the exercise consisted of Blue and Red forces war gaming a real-time scenario in order to evaluate the SAAF’s operational capabilities and combat readiness.

The objectives then were as follows:
· To evaluate the SAAF's deployability
· To enhance and evaluate the SAAF'S comprehensive defence operational capabilities
· To develop a common understanding of military interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-operation in the SAAF.
· To evaluate and upgrade operational readiness, means and methods.
· To evaluate co-operation and networking between stakeholders and civil aviation authorities and partners like ATNS, ACSA and the General Aviation.

It is anticipated that this year’ objectives will be similar, but the actual tactics and scenarios will differ so as to concentrate on airspace security and border patrolling.

It is expected that a large number of aircraft will be deployed to surrounding airfields, including Gripen and Hawk jets, Cessna Caravans, Agusta A109, Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters. Other systems could include Tactical Mobile Radars, Mobile Ground Signal Intelligence Systems and communication equipment.

The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a system for loading more boats onto ships, which it says will help the South African Navy (SAN) more effectively fight piracy.

The CSIR said its maritime security team came up with a removable davit system that fits onto a shipping container footprint mounted and adapted on the ship’s deck, after conducting research into controlled surface deployment of boats from moving ships. The system was put through stringent sea trials along the Cape Peninsula with various boats of differing design from the Maritime Reaction Squadron, South African Special Forces as well as the South African Navy.

“The davit system can accommodate boats of various hull shapes weighing up to 5 tonnes. The system comprises a wave compensating hydraulic davit system mounted on a load vector compensating base. The base also houses the drive system with local and remote controls, stored energy for a full deployment and recovery operation, as well as the logistic support equipment needed for the boat. Boats, as well as crew, can be lowered and retrieved safely by the davit system while the ship is underway. Two of these davit systems are normally fitted to a ship, with another two boats housed in the ships boat bay on CSIR-developed cradle systems,” the Centre said.

The CSIR added that, during the development phase and sea trials, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) needed to respond to an actual piracy threat on the east coast of Africa. With the pilot model installed, the SAN had their first success with the CSIR’s new system – despite it still being a demonstrator version.

“With such technology as building blocks to a highly mobile, integrated maritime capability, the SA Navy is in a stronger position to counter maritime threats, protect maritime assets (including natural resources), as well as economic sea-lines of communication, against multi-national crime syndicates,” the CSIR noted. “It is also better equipped to safeguard the integrity of territorial waters along the South African – and broader African – coasts.”

Besides supporting integrated naval operations on the east coast of Africa, the CSIR-developed capability has also allowed the South African Navy to conduct extended operations up the west coast of Africa, ensuring that the SANDF’s mandated responsibilities within the SADC and African Union security environments are met, the Centre said in its July newsletter.

It went on to state that more systems were subsequently developed to outfit navy frigates, as well as the combat support vessel SAS Drakensburg, for missions on a rotation basis. “This allowed the SA Navy to integrate its warship capability with various specialised elements within the SANDF to create an extended off board capability. This capability includes visit, board, search and seizure, interdiction, insertion and recovery over beaches, as well as augmenting search and rescue capabilities.”

Apparently, the development of the removable davit system has resulted in technology packages that have attracted international attention. “The system also potentially offers good business opportunities for small and medium enterprise (SME) organisations to support the manufacturing processes involved, stimulating the engineering environment supporting ship building and support within South Africa,” the CSIR concluded.

South Africa is currently undertaking anti-piracy patrols off its east coast and in the Mozambique Channel as part of Operation Copper. Anti-piracy patrols are usually conducted by the SA Navy’s four frigates (SAS Amatola, SAS Mendi, SAS Spioenkop and SAS Isandlwana). The latest patrols have generally been of three months duration.

On April 18 the South African Navy’s supply ship SAS Drakensberg (which had taken over from the frigates due to their scheduled maintenance cycles) assisted in the capture of seven Somali pirates in the Mozambique Channel in the Navy’s first hands-on experience with pirates since it began patrolling off the east coast.

The South African Navy was one of four countries to pursue a pirate mother ship in the Mozambique Channel after it had unsuccessfully attacked a Filipino merchant ship, and helped herd the vessel towards the Spanish warship Infanta Elena, which captured the pirates and rescued six fishermen being held on board.

The above information is not secret its the display of technological know how. Why hide information that can dispel misinformation and disinformation. If you market what you have then the world would know and come to buy the product.....why hide whats not there

Thiza: The above information is not secret its the display of technological know how. Why hide information that can dispel misinformation and disinformation. If you market what you have then the world would know and come to buy the product.....why hide whats not there

Well then, Nigeria is not a loud country.

andrewza:

Good int service according to who. You got 2 rebel groups running around making you a laughing stock.

And the SANDF is not the one marketing all the gear. It is how defense industry(because they marketing) and out side analysts(doing there job)there is a lot that not known about like the ops room at silver mine, the Maritime damage control and fire fighting school, are less known but still out there the real secrets are still secret.

Best infantry really based on what standing on you head dose not make solders.

We dont mind people knowing what we have or what we can do it changes nothing.


Has for your claim Thai Nigeria military is super secret it is not. It just not main stream i have access to defense magazines and journals full of info on Nigeria.

If memory serves me right South African army did not perform well in Lesotho. Recalling the initial BBC reports, the South African army were in fact a laughing stock.

@ andrewza, there is absolutely no doubt that the south-african military is the most mordern military on the continent and the most equipped, with a strong local defence industry.when stacked up in comparism with the nigerian military, yes, south africa is better in terms of military equipment. is it is not to say that when a "push turns into a shove", nigeria cannot rapidly expand and surpass the south african military in terms of hardware, remember that nigeria has the second largest economy on the continent, just a fraction behind south-africa, it is even projected that the nigerian economy would surpass that of ssouth africa by 2020. it doesn't however mean that south africa having a better equipped military, makes the nigerian military under-equipped, infact the 2012 security budget in nigeria is approx. 6 billion usd, representing one of the highest, if not the highest security budget on the continent. you made mention of the nigerian military fighting on two fronts in the north against islamic terrorists and in the south against militants. let me clear up this issues, starting from the south of nigerian. perharps you do not know that the niger delta is an area the size of belgium and the netherlands combined, with thousands of creeks and waterways.the JTF battled the militants tough and hard. when the ammnesty offer was made, the federal government was negotiating from a position of strenght. in the words of ATEKE TOM at that time he said, in pidgin english "JTF don block everywhere for creek, nowhere to pass comot. every don block". it was a clear victory for the military. john togo a renegade militant leader, after accepting the ammnesty offer went back into the creeks with his boys, after several warnings by the jtf, of which he ignored, he and several of his top commanders/ foot soldiers were bombed, killed or captured. up north, offcourse terrorism is new to nigeria. this is the second year nigeria has suffered terror attacks, despite the initial setback the nigerian security agencies particulary the army and the state security service( the secret police) has hade tremedous successes in dealing with terrorism ( of course terror attacks persist), not until the jos killings, which took the lives of two serving law makers( this attack i believe is an inter-ethnic clash, not boko-haram.....well, let me just give it to them) boko haram had/has been unable to launch major terror attacks on the state like they did in kano city in january. the military, particulary the state security service or SSS has made major busts and killings than the detachment 88 ( the elite indonesian anti-terror unit) of both high profile and foot soldier terrorists, without the sort of fundings the detachment 88 or equipment or trainings has had. there is also the issue of arms ploliferation on the continent, the libyan crisis, making it easy for rebels and terrorists to get arms. the message i'm trying to pass across is that, despite the fact that the south-african military has more mordern equipment than nigeria, it does not mean that the nigerian military cannot surpass that of south-africa if we wanted to( we are no malawi, we do not lack the money). secondly with all the fights the nigerian army is engaged in, it means that the military is battle tested and ready and can easily attack any african aggressor with deadly efficiency. p.s: i have enjoyed every bit of photos, you and your country men have posted on this site, and i wish we could come over to south africa and steal your swedish gripens.

South Africa is in a different class. Everyone else is a different degree of a joke.

It is not even close.


South Africa produces world class military equipment and has nuclear capabilities. Once again,it is not even in the same class. A serious evaluation will show that apart from the United States, Russia and China everyone is a different degree of a joke but, a joke none the less.

SmoothCrim: South Africa is in a different class. Everyone else is a different degree of a joke.

It is not even close.


South Africa produces world class military equipment and has nuclear capabilities. Once again,it is not even in the same class. A serious evaluation will show that apart from the United States, Russia and China everyone is a different degree of a joke but, a joke none the less.

China is also a joke. Their equipment is bootleg Russian crap.

Just chekout todayz news at www.saharareporters.com

Litmus:


If memory serves me right South African army did not perform well in Lesotho. Recalling the initial BBC reports, the South African army were in fact a laughing stock.

That was more to do with ROE, underestimating the mission requirements and political interference. It all so took place during a turbulent time for RSA a SANDF. And we completed all objectives in the end.

Blyss:

China is also a joke. Their equipment is bootleg Russian crap.

to the West yes but they out class a lot of other countries

@ thiza, who told you the SSS is not effective agianst BH and MEND. I dont know if you have ever heard of Kabir Sokoto? Do you know how, where and when (time of the day) he was captured? If you look carefully, you would come to see that the spate of violence has reduced a bit compared to what we had just after the election to the begining of the year. Do you think it is the same BH that attacked Kano in january has suddenly decided to relax?it is the SSS working!

@ thiza, just curious i dont know if you know dangote group of companies?

I may not be familiar with Nigerian capabilities in terms of armaments, technological know how, military industrial capabilities, products, training, special forces capabilities, airforce combat readiness, intelligence and naval prowerness. Least we engaged in an unproductive discussion. Lets put patriotic and nationalist feelings aside as it diluted the debate.

Rules of engagement should be based on verifiable facts, photos and expert opinions......LET THE GAME BEGINS

Denel Dynamics, a UAV and missiles supplier to the South African military, has declared the latest iteration of its Mokopa guided missile ready for use. The Mokopa is a small precision guided weapon with a range of 10 km+. It was initially developed as a helicopter-mounted anti-tank weapon but how now been certified for deployment from land and fixed-wing aircraft.

The missile system is modular, and allows a choice of penetration, fragmentation or anti-armour warheads, depending on its theatre of use. A multiple warhead configuration is also possible. Cheaper - and more importantly lighter - than comparable Sea Skua or Hellfire ground attack missiles, the feasibility of deploying the missile from lightweight Lynx helicopters is being studied.

The company commented that “it seems to us most of our Lynx customers have a requirement for an affordable precision weapon to take on non-traditional threats - for example, the pirate threat.” Although South Africa currently has no ships contributing to the Indian Ocean Task Force 150 anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia, piracy is still a problem in the waters off the Cape of Good Hope.

The flexibility of the missile system is expected to be its main selling point, with the producer commenting that “The Mokopa should be particularly effective with a multi-purpose warhead in support of offshore patrol vessels, such as those contemplated for the SA Navy’s Project Biro. The weapon is also suitable as a secondary PGM for larger vessels, such as frigates”.

The system has been in development since 1996, and came about as a result of a US arms embargo creating demand for a domestically developed guided weapon. The system is expected to enter service once testing on further land and air platforms is completed.

SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY

Reutech’s naval products span a wide variety of sensor and weapon solutions. As an Original Equipment Manufacturer, Reutech produces systems and sub-systems that cover the full spectrum of development, manufacture, commissioning, support and upgrade in the naval environment.

These products and services have been delivered to the South African Navy, as well as to a wide variety of users on all continents.

Further information on our naval products may be sourced on the following websites:
Radar Sensors:

RSR 210N X-Band Pulse Doppler Air-Sea Surveillance Radar
RSR 960 FMCW Air-Sea Surveillance Radar

Fuzes:

Naval guns of 76mm to 140mm calibre
Proximity and Point Detonation fuzing

Communications:

Ship to Air VHF and UHF Radio Systems

Solutions:

Sea Rogue Remotely Operated Weapon System
Naval Logistic Support
Naval Logistic Engineering

DENEL SIGNS R3.5 BILLION MANUFACTURING DEAL WITH MALAYSIA

Denel has signed a Euro 340 million (R3.5 billion) contract with Malaysia to supply a range of turret and integrated weapon systems to be fitted onto 8 X 8 armoured vehicles.

Zwelakhe Ntshepe, the Group Executive Business Development and Corporate Affairs of Denel, says this is the largest export contract in the company’s history and will result in a significant cash injection and job creation in the local industry.

The turrets will be exported to Malaysia over a seven year period – with the first consignment ready for delivery in January 2013.

Mr Ntshepe says the final negotiations with Malaysia were concluded at the recent Defence Services Asia Exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur, together with our local partners DRB-Hicom (Deftech), our partner in Malaysia.

The CEO of Denel Land Systems (DLS), Stephan Burger, says his company will be responsible for a number of strategic components that have been designed and developed at its campus in Lyttelton:
 69 x two man turrets fitted with the South African GI30 30mm main gun.
 54 x missile turrets equipped with the GI30 30mm gun and South African Ingwe anti-tank missile system. The order also includes the supply of 216 laser-guided Ingwe missiles manufactured by Denel Dynamics.
 54 x Remote control weapons systems.

Mr Burger says the production of the first consignment of turrets is on schedule and will be delivered in January 2013 for trials by the Malaysian Army.

The turrets and weapon systems will be integrated on the Malaysian Army’s 8 X 8 vehicles which are based on the Pars armoured vehicle platforms from the Turkish company, FNSS.

Through the contract Denel is participating in the Malaysian Economic Enhancement programme which entails the production and assembly of the turrets in Malaysia. The agreement provides a platform to transfer weapon system integration technology to Deftech in order to create a sustainable capability in Malaysia.

Mr Burger says the contract opens the door to future industry cooperation between the two countries including on-going maintenance and future upgrades of the turrets.

Mr Ntshepe says the manufacturing of the turret systems grew out of DLS’s development of the Badger infantry combat vehicle on behalf of the South African Army. The Badger meets the requirements of a modern army involved in both high-intensity warfare and peacekeeping operations and will replace the 30-year old Ratel as the mainstay of the mechanised infantry force.

The Malaysian contract strengthens DLS’s reputation as a strategic hub of innovation and advanced manufacturing capabilities on the African continent. It will enable the company to retain skilled and highly-skilled engineers and artisans and attract a new generations of innovators.

Denel Land Systems, a company in the Denel SOC group is a defence system house for landward mobility and firepower solutions. Its primary focus is to provide products to the SANDF but it also serves international customers as a technology partner, system integrator and subsystem supplier.

DLS is best known for its development of the G5 (towed) and G6 (self-propelled) guns, the world’s leading 155 mm artillery systems. The G5 is currently in service in Malaysia.

Mr Burger says DLS “has a unique balance of technologies and engineering capabilities,” to take complex systems or products through their entire lifecycle, from conceptualisation to production.

Riaz Saloojee, the Group Chief Executive says “I am excited by this contract as it confirms Denel’s position as a global player in the defence manufacturing industry and will lead to a growing interest from the international community in the quality and range of products and services produced by us.”
ends

SOUTH AFRICAN AEROSTRUCTURE MANUFACTURER SETS EYES ON ASEAN REGION
16 April 2012
Experience gained by South Africa’s Denel Aerostructures in the design and manufacturing of the world’s premier aircraft is now also available to clients in South-East Asia.
The CEO of Denel Aerostructures (DAe), Ismail Dockrat, says his company is a supplier of strategic and vital parts to the Airbus A400M, the SAAB Gripen fighter aircraft, the AgustaWestland A109 Light Utility Helicopter and the globally popular Gulfstream G150 executive jet. DAe, a company in the Denel Group, is part of the South African pavilion at the Defence Services Asia Exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre.
“We have the technology, the infrastructure and the accumulated experience to partner with clients in South-East Asia in all areas of the design, industrialisation and manufacturing of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft,” says Dockrat.
DAe is one of a select few companies outside of Europe to design and manufacture vital parts for the A400M, the world’s most advanced tactical airlifter. On a recent visit to South Africa, Cedric Gautier, the Head of the A400M programme said DAe is “one of Airbus’s most reliable suppliers for the manufacturing of the A400M. We are pleased with the quality of workmanship and the engineering know-how available in the company.”
Best known for its design, development and manufacturing of South Africa’s Rooivalk combat-support helicopter, DAe is responsible for one of the largest composite-metallic hybrid structures on the A400M, namely the Wing-to-Fuselage Fairing (WFF).
The WFF is the essential part of the aircraft that protects the sensitive equipment under the centre wing portion against lightning strikes, hail damage and bird strikes.
DAe also manufactures the aircraft’s Top Shells – positioned in front of and behind the wings where it is joined to the fuselage. They are made up of more than 1 100 parts, consisting of a large machined skin, engineered out of an aluminium alloy. Its brackets support the vital electric and electronic wiring, hot air and heat exchange piping as well as the aircraft’s life-rafts.
Both parts were designed from scratch by DAe and are manufactured at the company’s production facilities located next to the O R Tambo International, Africa’s largest and busiest airport.
Having produced vital parts for the first A400M prototype aircraft, the company is currently ramping up its production to meet Airbus Military’s delivery schedules. Within the next four years DAe will manufacture 24 ship sets per year, moving off the production lines for final assembly in Seville, Spain.
Dockrat says a distinguishing feature of DAe is its “design to build” capacity – meaning that it is responsible for the entire production process, from the initial designs to delivery of the final product.
A key feature of the massive aircraft is the extensive utilisation of composite materials in its manufacturing. Composites such as carbon fibre, glass fibre and Kevlar bring benefits of flexibility and weight reduction to the manufacturing process without sacrificing strength and reliability. DAe has been a global pioneer in the use of composites in aircraft manufacturing for more than two decades, says Dockrat.
DAe’s manufacturing skills and capacity are also utilised in the production processes of other well-known international aircraft widely used by air forces and airlines across the world.
• On the Gulfstream G150 it is responsible for the tail section – or empennage – consisting of the vertical tail fin, the horizontal section and the rudder that steers the aircraft. Manufactured by the US-based General Dynamics Company the G150 is one of the world’s most widely flown executive jets.
• On SAAB’s Jas 39 Gripen fighter DAe manufactures the rear fuselage section, the main landing gear unit and the six under wing pylons that carry the armament, fuel tanks and high-definition cameras.
“Our participation in these international projects demonstrates the confidence of original equipment manufacturers in the high standards of our engineering skills and the quality of our production processes,” says Dockrat.
“Our company is on the cutting edge of aerostructure manufacturing and can make valuable contributions to ASEAN companies looking for industry partners.

Twenty five years after it astonished the global defence community, South Africa’s G6 self-propelled Gun-Howitzer still sets the standards against which all long-distance artillery are being measured.

“The G6 was ahead of its time when it was first launched in 1987,” says Stephan Burger, the CEO of Denel Land Systems. “Through our continuous research and investment in the gun we have ensured it remains ahead of the pack as the most versatile and reliable artillery system in its class.”

“We are still outgunning all our global competitors by a wide margin,” he says.

Burger says Denel Land Systems (DLS) is undoubtedly a world leader in the design, development and manufacturing of artillery. Modern armies still requires agile and flexible artillery systems to support troops involved in both high-intensity warfare and peace-keeping operations.

Artillery is used to establish fire superiority and hit high-value targets over long distances providing armies with a tactical and operational edge against enemies. The fact that it is self-propelled enables it to keep pace with mounted infantry and armour units over extended distances.

Based on the locally-developed G5 the 155mm G6 revolutionised artillery with its ability to hit targets over exceptionally long distances with an outstanding degree of accuracy.
Mounted on a wheeled chassis the G6 is self-propelled, giving it a remarkable agility and ultra-quick reaction time. Its ability to hit targets more than 65km away at a rate of fire of six rounds per minute confirmed its reputation as one of the most versatile artillery systems ever developed.

In addition to the South African National Defence Force the G6 has also been acquired by the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Burger says Lyttelton Engineering Works – the predecessor of Denel Land Systems – initially designed the G6 to meet the need for an accurate, long-range artillery system that is highly mobile and easy to operate.

The upgraded G6-52, was first launched in 2003 and is continuously being modified to “remain at the front of the pack” in modern artillery systems.
Some of the key features of the G6-52 are:

•Mobility and speed. Traditionally artillery pieces had to be towed, thus restricting its effective deployment in difficult terrain. The six-wheeled G6 changed the face of artillery because it is self-propelled, with the ability to reach speeds of 85km per hour on roads and 35 km per hour in off-road conditions. It can traverse terrain to a gradient of 40 degrees and cross trenches of up to one meters

•Range – the G6-52 increased the operational range from 50 kilometres – already considered to be remarkable – to 58 kilometres making it the premier system of its kind in the world.

•Accuracy – The gun is fitted with an accurate inertial and GPS navigation system. A ring laser gyro based gun laying system ensures accurate gun pointing to within 1mil (0.05 of a degree). Up to five rounds can be fired to impact simultaneously on the same target by means of the G6-52's advanced AS2000 artillery target engagement system. This maximises the surprise element to achieve better effect on the target
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•Ease of operation – the G6 is served by a crew of between 3 and 5 which includes the driver, commander, gun layer, ammunition loader and breech operator. The on-board gyro-controlled navigation system enables the gun to be brought into action within 60 seconds of stopping and it can move off within 30 seconds after firing.

•Rate of fire – the gun can fire projectiles at a rate of six rounds per minute.
•Full-protection – the G6 is protected against counter-battery fire and its mobility makes it an extremely difficult target to locate and hit. The armoured turret and hull provide protection against small arms fire and shell splinters while the chassis can withstand multiple landmine explosions.

•Adaptability – the gun is capable of firing a wide range of 155mm ammunition including velocity-enhanced long-range projectiles (V-LAP).

•The ammunition for the G6 has been developed in South Africa and is supplied by Rheinmetall Denel Munition.

EXPLORING THE OUTER REACHES OF TECHNOLOGY

As part of its on-going skills development programme, Denel helped structure a Master’s degree in radar technology at the University of Cape Town.

Human capital and people development is critical to the survival of the state-owned company, a leader in the defence industry and a major technology hub in Africa.

This initiative came from one of the entities within the Denel Group, Denel Integrated Systems Solutions (DISS), where the design and integration of complex systems for ground-based air defence requires the highest levels of skills – for example, systems engineers have to undergo extensive on-the-job training before they are qualified and there are only a handful of them in the country.

DISS focuses on level 5+ of the acquisition hierarchy, with the sole purpose of supporting the SANDF in the acquisition of its Ground Based Air Defence System capability.

“In 2010 DISS found that in order to deal with the technological challenges of GBADS Phase 2, and to ensure sustainability of its business, it was necessary, if not critical, to groom selected employees within the radar technology field,” said Ralph Mills, CEO of DISS.

“An investigation into the market found that most educational institutions had no formal curriculum to offer in this field of specialisation. Amongst others, investigation led to interesting discussions with members at the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, the CSIR, Armscor and the South African Radar Interest Group (SARIG).

The outcome resulted in a structured Master’s Degree in Radar: Defence Electronics through the University of Cape Town in January 2011. The programme is a combined effort between UCT, Stellenbosch University, Pretoria University, the CSIR and overseas lecturers”, said Mills.

DISS has enrolled two employees, Shaheen Mahomed and Aadil Valli Essop onto this programme and their second year of studies is now well underway.

It remains a challenge to balance part time studies with work deliverables, especially given the critical realisation of the Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Operational, Test and Evaluation (O,T & E) of GBADS Phase 1 from June to October 2011.

Notwithstanding the full participation of both employees in these exercises, their unfailing commitment to the successful completion of their studies is evident. The Master’s degree is due for completion at the end of the 2012 calendar year.

Radar refers to all sensor systems that employ electromagnetic energy to sense the environment. Electronic Defence is the counter to this i.e. protecting sensors from unwanted interference by malicious agents. Radar and Electronic Defence embraces an extremely wide range of skills in all branches of engineering.

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DENEL CHEETAHS FLYING HIGH IN ECUADOR

All 12 of the South African Cheetah supersonic fighters sold to Ecuador have successfully completed their test flights and are now ready for deployment by the Ecuadorian air force.

Riaz Saloojee, the Group Chief Executive of Denel, says the sale of the 10 Cheetah C (single seat) and two Cheetah D (dual seat) planes is now complete and has been delivered to the complete satisfaction of the client.

Denel Aviation will continue to provide a comprehensive maintenance and support service to the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) for the next five years with an option for renewal.
“This is an exciting business opportunity for Denel Aviation,” says Mr Saloojee. “We successfully sold a fighter plane that was designed in South Africa and used locally for many years to a major international client.

“Our future partnership with the Ecuadorian Air Force will provide an important platform to showcase local capabilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work to the rest of the world” says Mr Saloojee.

Mike Kgobe, the CEO of Denel Aviation says the agreement to deliver the 12 fighters was signed in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, in November 2010. The government of Ecuador decided to purchase the Cheetahs as part of a programme to modernise its aircraft fleet.

The Cheetahs were delivered in four batches with the final shipment completed earlier this year. Prior to dispatching the aircraft, they were returned to service and flight-tested before being disassembled locally for shipment and then carefully reassembled and flight-tested in Ecuador.

Denel Aviation provided technical and logistics support to the local teams conducting the tests in Ecuador. Ecuadorian pilots and ground support staff also received extensive conversion training to fly and maintain the South African planes.

“All the stringent tests have now been completed and the Cheetahs were declared ready for operational deployment,” says Mr Kgobe.

Mr Kgobe says a significant milestone was reached on 17 May 2012 when seven of the fighters took to the Ecuadorian skies simultaneously during a fly past to mark the handover of command of the country’s air force to Brigadier General Enrique Velasco.

Denel Aviation is the design authority of the single-seat fighter that was locally developed as a variant of the Mirage lll in the 1980s. The Denel Cheetahs were retired from active duty following the acquisition by South Africa of its new fleet of Saab Gripen fighter jets.
Negotiations between Denel Aviation, Armscor and the FAE started in 2009. An Ecuadorian team visited South Africa in April 2010 to inspect the Cheetah fleet and to participate in specific evaluation flights.

Denel Aviation subsequently visited FAE facilities to review the infrastructure and technical capability of the Ecuadorian Air Force to accommodate the Cheetah aircraft, to evaluate the level of support required and to identify the need for further training.

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