Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? - Foreign Affairs (9) - Nairaland
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| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 6:51am On Apr 04, 2012 |
though there is no love between America and South Africa, there is no hate. And many NATO nations are close friends. We train with America and other NATO nations so has to bench mark ourselves. War with them is bot on our minds. America has more Subs than we have ships boats any thing that floats. 1 aircraft carrier carries more personal than the SA Navy and more aircraft than most african air forces. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 7:53am On Apr 04, 2012 |
The point of the message was not about war but the state of comabat readiness of the South African navy. The indication shows that South African navy possess a class of highly trained sailors. Every person in his right mind knows that South Africa would not engage any country in conflict...let alone the United States.....military exercise with other best military forces are meant to bench mark one´s standard of combat readiness and South Africa in this case came out on top inspite of rationalisation, old soldiers, AIDS scare, illiteracy, incompetency and other negative stereo type propaganda being waged against the South African National Defence Force |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 9:16pm On Apr 04, 2012 |
This is part of the VISION 2020 PROCUMENT PROCESS: SA Army Projects 2020 Overarching programme to position the SA Army for the future in terms of strategy, doctrine, vision, mission and equipment acquisition. Acrobat Acquisition of long-range 60mm mortar system. 102 systems ordered mid-2006 for R101 million as part of Project Acrobat, delivery expected from 2009 to 2010 Adrift Upgrade of ZT2 anti-armour missile to ZT3 Ingwe baseline standard for the SA armoured Corps. Thirteen new launchers and 80 missiles delivered since Q3 2006. Foreseen commissioning: 2008. Ambition 1B Acquisition of the Gecko rapid deployment logistical vehicles for parachute and Special Forces. 112 delivered. Commissioned from June 2006. "Partial acquisition only". Aorta Planned acquisition of a new main battle tank to replace the Olifant. Leopard 2 considered likely choice. Arum lily Upgrade of 80 Rooikat armoured cars. Foreseen commissioning 2008. Atolasa Upgrade of the Olifant MK 1B main battle tank to MK2 status. Commissioning from late 2007 Billet Acquisition of a new generation semi-static communications infrastructure for operation by 2 Signal Regiment. Bioskoop Development of local warning radar system and battery command post for air defence. Four Thutlhwa (Kameelperd, Giraffe) ordered 1996 and delivered 2006. Requirement stands for a troop command post. Blesbok Partial acquisition of new-generation water purification and provisioning system using a shortened acquisition process. Foreseen date for production: 2008. Chamber Acquisition of a new generation tactical electronic capability for 5 Signal Regiment[1]. R110 million budgeted. Citizen Partial acquisition of a new-generation maintenance, repair and recovery system. Foreseen commissioning 2013. Cytoon Development and partial acquisition of a battlefield surveillance and mobile intelligence processing system consisting of a battlefield surveillance radar, thermal imager and UAV. Foreseen commissioning: 2009. Gijima Upgrade of 167 Casspir APC. Project was to be completed by March 2007. Guardian (GBADS 1) Local warning segment of the Ground-Based Air Defence System (GBADS). Two Thales PAGE warning radars, eight Lightweight Multiple Launchers for the Starstreak very short-range air defence missile Hoefyster Partial acquisition of a new generation infantry fighting vehicle. 264 Patria Advanced Modular Vehicles on order at a cost of R8.4 billion. Deliveries from 2010. Isibali New generation (insensitive) explosives. Jury Upgrade of 220 Mamba APC. Commissioning. Khanyisa Upgrade of 100 M40A1 106mm RCL, ammunition resupply. Kingfisher Upgrade of 30 Milan launchers to Milan ADT-ER status and acquisition of 300 missiles for R167.4 million. Delivery underway. Up to 100 more launchers can be upgraded. Klooster Acquisition of an artillery target engagement system. First regimental set delivered 2007, second 2008. System includes an African Defence Systems fire control subsystem and an ATE Vulture unmanned aerial system. Legend Acquisition of the first phase of a tactical command, control, communications and information computer (C4I) system for the brigade-and-below. A R30m+ contract awarded to Saab Systems SA in 2008. Musuku Development and partial acquisition of an advanced multi-role light artillery gun capability in the form of the 105mm "Light Experimental Ordnance. Foreseen commissioning: 2012. Muhali An artillery ammunition and charge system upgrade for the G5 and G6 155mm medium gun systems. Foreseen commissioning: 2008 Outcome (GBADS III) Planned acquisition of the Umkhonto all weather surface-to-air-misile (AWSAM). No dates as yet. Pantile Acquisition of engineer earthmoving/construction equipment. Foreseen commissioning: 2009 Pigeon Upgrade of the SS77 general purpose machine gun. Commissioning Pirate Partial acquisition of a new generation hand-held mine detector. Foreseen commissioning: 2008. Prickley (sic) pear Acquisition of a data base geographical information system for the SANDF. Protector (GBADS II) Development and partial acquisition of a mobile ground-based air defence system. Possible R3bn[2] budget for land-based Umkhonto IR missile. Foreseen commissioning: 2010. Raadsaal Acquisition of a heavy/extra heavy recovery vehicle. Commissioning. Completion scheduled for March 2008. Radiate A new generation tactical communications system for operation by 1 Signal Regiment. Swatch Development and partial acquisition of mobile camping system. No funds available at May 2007. Teamster Development and partial acquisition of mass field feeding system (field kitchen). Foreseen commissioning: 2008. Tladi "Zone 1" anti-tank. New generation portable infantry A/T rocket launcher to replace RPG7 and FT5. Topstar Partial acquisition of new-generation gyroscopic systems for the artillery. Foreseen commencement of commissioning: 2008. Not SCAMP funded. Utolo Partial acquisition of minefield breaching system to replace Plofadder. In study phase 2005-7. Vistula[3] Acquisition of 3000 logistics trucks to replace the SAMIL series. MAN, Mercedes Benz short-listed. Award delayed by allegations of corruption and interference in the tender process. Vlooimark Partial acquisition of infantry 40mm Y3 automatic grenade launcher. Commissioning. Vundulula Partial acquisition of field fire fighting system. Project not funded beyond study phase (in 2005). Warrior Dismounted soldier system. Acquisition study for low risk items completed 2006. Development plan for complex sub-systems underway. Wyandotte Study of deeper level logistics: Transport by truck, train and ship. Project not funded beyond study phase. Not registered as a project by Sep 2008 Acquisition of a new light armour system for the Armoured Corps to replace the Eland-series armoured car. Required Operational Capability Study completed. {mospagebreak title=SA Air Force Projects} SA Air Force Projects Adobe Acquisition of a self-protection system for the Oryx. Project complete, June 2007. Assegaai Development of a short-range air-to-air missile for the SAAF fighter stream. Being developed as a joint venture with Brazil by Denel Dynamics. Each country is said to have allocated R500 million to the missile development phase. It is not clear how much SA has spent additionally on the project between conceptualisation and 2006 when the JV was announced. Bandsman Upgrade and replacement of airport fire tenders. Phase 1 to upgrade existing fire tenders was completed in 2006. Phase 2 for the acquisition of further fire tenders is in progress with a completion date for 2010. Continent Acquisition of between 8-14 Airbus A400M Loadmaster future medium transports. Delivery was due from late 2010, but project now substantially delayed as a result of development problems. Deer Acquisition of a stand-off radar jammer for the Denel Oryx medium helicopter. Project completed, June 2007. Design Aircrew training simulator. Final acceptance of the system at 80 Air Navigation School. Operational Test and Evaluation scheduled to end late August 2008. Drummer Midlife upgrade for the remaining Denel Oryx medium helicopters that came into service in 1989. About 38 out of 51 still fly. Ebb C130 midlife upgrade. Scheduled completed March 2008 Impose Design, development and production of Denel CSH2A Rooivalk combat support helicopter and Mokopa heavy antitank guided missile. Development to be completed by 2009 after starting in 1984; R8.1bn spent on programme to 2007. Mokopa: R70m set aside to acquire missiles. R120m spent on development to FY2007, R4.6m to be spent in FY2007/8 and Denel to spend a further R98.25m.[4] Flange Acquisition of 30 Agusta A109 light utility helicopters for R2.39 billion (2007 Treasury figure). Koiler Acquisition of a day/night tactical intelligence (reconnaissance) system for the Cessna C208 light transport inclusive of a datalink. Acquisition of three sets of mission equipment and the modification of 11 aircraft have been contracted. Operational test and evaluation scheduled 2008. Release to service planned for late 2008. Maulstic Acquisition of four maritime helicopters for Navy Project Sitron (the frigate acquisition). Four Agusta-Westland 300 SuperLynx delivered July 2007. Muggie Replacement of a radio-switching network. Simunye[5] "A technology project for defining, testing and evaluating Joint Air Defence Command and Control (C2) systems concepts and related systems architectures". Ukhozi Acquisition of an advanced lightweight fighter aircraft. Twenty-six Saab JAS39 Gripen C/D to be delivered by 2012 at a cost of R20 billion (2007 Treasury figure). Winchester Acquisition of a lead-in fighter trainer. Twenty four BAE Systems Mk120 Hawk delivered by 2008 at a cost of R7.2 billion (2007 Treasury figure). Not registered as a project in 2007[6] Acquisition of a future medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. Still under consideration by SAAF not yet registered as a Required Operational Capability. Not registered as a project in 2007 Acquisition of a future maritime patrol aircraft. Still under consideration by SAAF not yet registered as a Required Operational Capability. Not known Leasing of three Saab Erieye multirole airborne surveillance systems housed on Embraer platforms. Said to be a work in progress with system to be in place by June 2010, kick-off for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Not known Acquisition of the Diehl BGT IRIS-T short-range infrared air-to-air missile for the Gripen advanced lightweight fighter aircraft. Not known Avionics upgrade for the Pilatus PC7 MkII (M) ab initio trainer. Thirty-five aircraft to be upgraded at a budgeted cost of R400 million. Not known Acquisition of a low-cost, side-by-side, basic trainer. Twelve aircraft @R2-3m each, R24-36m for the fleet[7]. Not known "Pavement management system" (runway upgrades, six sub-projects). SA Navy Projects Biro Planned acquisition and local construction of six to 12 multi-mission offshore patrol vessels (MMOPV) Ballpark cost R300 million each. The vessels will replace the current Warrior-class OPV, the River-class minehunter and City-class minesweeper. To run in conjunction with Project Hotel. Award scheduled for 2009. Brutes Half life upgrade for combat support ship SAS Drakensberg. Hotel Acquisition of a new generation maritime survey ship to replace the Hecla-class SAS Protea. To run in conjunction with Project Biro. Award scheduled for 2009. Ship to have a secondary OPV role and equipment fit. Mapantsula Acquisition of an "offboard" mine counter-measure system (autonomous underwater vehicle) for use by surface fleet. Scheduled for completion: 2010. Millennium Acquisition of a "strategic support ship". One or more 200m LPD/LPH vessels contemplated. Likely acquisition cost based on a similar French design €340 million per ship. Sitron Acquisition of four Meko A200SAN small guided missile frigates. Delivered and in service. Stanchion Acquisition of an underwater signature measurement system. Phase 1 (the signal measurement system) scheduled for delivery December 2007. Phase 2 (magnetic treatment centre) scheduled for completion December 2009. Suvecs Design and development of an indigenous frigate combat suite. Cancelled in favour of Thales Tavitac for Project Sitron. Subject to subsequent litigation and controversy. Wills Acquisition of a new generation submarine. Three ThyssenKrupp Type 209 1400 boats delivered and in service. Xena Acquisition of a C3I system and 15 10.5m inshore patrol vessels for the Operational Boat Squadron. SA Military Health Service Projects Beginning Establishment of an aeromedical and specialist training facility. Likely cost R400 million. Not budgeted for in 2007. Mutchkin (sic) Development and partial acquisition of a basic chemical and biological (CB) self-protection capability consisting of CB detection, protection and equipment de-contamination. Partial acquisition is planned to commence by December 2008 and first deliveries by September 2009. Six urban defence systems, three conventional systems. R422m required but only R198m on budget for next 13 years. Command Management and Information Systems Division Projects Domino Redesign of the division`s structure. Joint Operations Division Projects Battlespace[8] "A high-level overview of the characteristics of the current and possible future African operational environment and of some of the military implications thereof". Special Forces Projects Ambition 1A Acquisition of the Hornet rapid deployment reconnaissance vehicle for the Special Forces. All 25 delivered by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC by August 2006. Commissioned. . Sundowner Long-range high-speed boats for the Special Forces. Delivered. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 10:31pm On Apr 04, 2012 |
Not trying to be rude only pointing out. The project info is out of date. Some have been cancelled others increased. Example The Airbuse A400m deal was cancelled. this was due to cost over runs and constant delays in the development of the Aircraft. Project Biro is budgeted for 6 IPV armed with a 35mm gun and 3 OPV armed with 76mm gun and helicopter operation facilities. But it is under review to increase the numbers due to the Piracy risk. But it gets the point across. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by SamIkenna: 1:14am On Apr 05, 2012 |
Thiza: This is part of the VISION 2020 PROCUMENT PROCESS: Pls these questions are for my SA brothers and I'm asking with love and respect for both SA and her citizens. Do you think anyone is about to invade you now or in the near future? Are you in any kind of arm race? If you're neither anticipating invasion nor in arm race isn't it more rewarding to use this huge resource on the poor and needy in SA? |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 5:47am On Apr 05, 2012 |
We only spend 1.2% to 1.6% of the GDP on defense. So the government is under funding the SANDF since the international average is 2% of the GDP. And if you consider the amount of solders deployed over seas, we have more force over seas now than we ever had in Angola during the war there. So it not like these things just sit around wasting tax payer money. There is a saying. "If you want peace prepare for war" |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Beaf: 5:54am On Apr 05, 2012 |
andrewza: We only spend 1.2% to 1.6% of the GDP on defense. So the government is under funding the SANDF since the international average is 2% of the GDP. And if you consider the amount of solders deployed over seas, we have more force over seas now than we ever had in Angola during the war there. So it not like these things just sit around wasting tax payer money. Its true! I wanna fight a big war with this goat. Who d'you think will win?  [img]https://www.nairaland.com/download/660499[/img] |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 6:51am On Apr 05, 2012 |
My money is on the goat. Look at its eyes. It is the eyes of a killer. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by SamIkenna: 3:24pm On Apr 05, 2012 |
andrewza: We only spend 1.2% to 1.6% of the GDP on defense. So the government is under funding the SANDF since the international average is 2% of the GDP. And if you consider the amount of solders deployed over seas, we have more force over seas now than we ever had in Angola during the war there. So it not like these things just sit around wasting tax payer money. ok. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by adamsheaven: 1:16am On Apr 06, 2012 |
why do we compare NIGERIA military with other military in Africa? Egypt may have the equipment.South Africa may produce the weapons but NIGERIA military remains the best in Africa if not why would the American military take Nigerian military has its partner in war? moreover Nigerian soldiers have what we call MORALE,their morale is unbeatable in Africa so its part of what makes Nigeria a giant of Africa therefore no country in Africa dares Nigeria.....   |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Beaf: 2:09am On Apr 06, 2012 |
andrewza: My money is on the goat. Look at its eyes. It is the eyes of a killer. Can you imagine this yeye man? I'm saying I wanna eat the goat and he is saying the goat will win the battle! You tink say goat get weapon pass hungry man? I might even eat the damn thing raw! |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 6:39am On Apr 06, 2012 |
adamsheaven: why do we compare NIGERIA military with other military in Africa? Egypt may have the equipment.South Africa may produce the weapons but NIGERIA military remains the best in Africa if not why would the American military take Nigerian military has its partner in war? moreover Nigerian soldiers have what we call MORALE,their morale is unbeatable in Africa so its part of what makes Nigeria a giant of Africa therefore no country in Africa dares Nigeria..... What do you mean partner in war? And what do you think there is low moral in the other countries. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 6:44am On Apr 06, 2012 |
Beaf: That goat will start eating you before you are even dead. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by buzor(m): 8:39am On Apr 06, 2012 |
what a mess is naija turning into. imagine zulu ppl threatenin us here even in nl... tufiakwa |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 5:10pm On Apr 09, 2012 |
The week of 19 to 23 September will mark Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD 2012) seventh exhibition, cementing its status as ‘The largest exhibition of air, sea and land capabilities on the African continent’. http://www.aadexpo.co.za So much preparation goes on behind the scenes between shows, both from the side of the exhibitor’s and AAD team to ensure that the standard of the show keeps improving, so it is rewarding to see visitor numbers increase with each exhibition. Between 19 and 21 September, trade and static displays will attract visitors from more than 31 countries as well as South African industry/trade delegates. The three trade days will be followed by the public days and spectacular airshow on 22 and 23 September 2012. It’s expected that the public days will attract crowds in the region of more than 50,000 spectators per day. The trade days will feature 11 national pavilions including United States , China , Belgium , Germany , Italy , Turkey , Russia , India , Switzerland , Romania and United Kingdom and are expected to stimulate business for local and international companies involved in the growing defence, general aviation and security industries. AAD opens doors for local manufacturers and the huge amount of interest from the international defence and aerospace industry creates opportunities to exploit emerging markets in the southern African region as well as the continent as a whole. The City of Tshwane ( Pretoria ) in conjunction with AAD and South African Police Services will monitor the event to ensure visitor and public safety and they will oversee a traffic management plan for AAD 2012 with traffic services to direct the thousands of people expected to attend AAD 2012 airshow. For the public, the allure of the show will be in the form of breath-taking aerobatic displays on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September. There will also be lots of entertainment for the whole family, static displays of aircraft, trucks and armoured vehicles and an entertainment park for children. Apart from the airshow, the open days will also feature vehicle demonstrations and plenty of interesting exhibitions. There will also be a youth development programme, where (learners and students) youngsters can experience the world of flight simulators, vehicle simulators and model building. Industry representatives will be on hand to provide more information about careers in the aerospace and defence industries. For further information please contact: Ms Vhongani Shumba - AAD2012: Marketing and PR manager ; Cell: +27 (0)84 840 3214 e-mail: marketingpr@aadexpo.co.za Website: www.aadexpo.co.za . |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 11:26pm On Apr 13, 2012 |
Radar technology capabilities of the South African Army Electronicon A.S. a Norwegian defence equipment supply company was contracted in December 2007 by the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) to supply five RSR 210N X-Band air/ sea surveillance radars. This contract was awarded for radar systems to be applied aboard the Aegis-equipped Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates of the Royal Norwegian Navy with primary role as helicopter control radar and additional supplementary surveillance capabilities. Reutech Radar Systems, a South African radar development and manufacturing company was contracted by Electronicon A.S. as the major sub-supplier into the program. To date RSR 210N has been installed aboard KNM Otto Sverdrup, KNM Roald Amundsen and KNM Fridtjof Nansen with the balance of the five systems on schedule for delivery later this year and early next year. A significant milestone was reached with the successful completion of the Final Qualification Review following Sea Acceptance Trials in Norwegian waters at the end of June this year. As part of the run-up to these trials, several engineering trials were conducted, often executed under adverse weather and sea state conditions. The trials collectively proved the system’s ability to provide the ship with a high performance supplementary air/sea surveillance capability as well as to provide high accuracy helicopter position reporting even under complex clutter conditions encountered in the Norwegian landward, littoral and open sea environments. These trials comprised extensive accuracy measurements, near and far range detection performance of both air and sea targets as well as the system’s ability to classify targets as surface, fixed wing or helicopter. Sustained performance in the presence of electronic counter-measures has confirmed the status of RSR 210N as a true naval radar. The successful completion of the Final Qualification Review establishes RSR 210N’s operational standing aboard principal warships of a leading NATO navy. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 11:27pm On Apr 13, 2012 |
Role by the South African Army in Africa 21 July 2011 :: Deployment of a Thutlwa deployed at Juba Airport Reutech Thutlwa ESR 220 to South Sudan As part of the independence celebrations, the South African government deployed a military contingent to Juba in South Sudan, Africa’s newest state. The purpose was to provide radar coverage for the airfield and the necessary airspace control for all the visiting heads of states and other VIP’s at the airport. A SANDF Air Defence Artillery Formation Thutlwa Radar System was deployed at Juba airport to support the SA Air Force in providing radar coverage of the airfield for Airspace Management / Air Traffic control functionality. After travelling more than 500km by road from Kimberley to Pretoria the Thutlwa system was loaded on board an Ilyushin II-76 cargo aircraft which flew another 5000km to Juba. The Thutlwa system was off-loaded and deployed and was declared operational the same day with an air picture via the Air Picture Display System to the air traffic controllers. This heralded the first ever deployment of a Reutech Thutlwa Radar System beyond the borders of South Africa and only the third ever operational deployment in an operatiopn other than war mission of the system. The first being the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the second was in an Air Border safeguarding operation earlier this year. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 11:32pm On Apr 13, 2012 |
The ESR 3xx range is a family of fully coherent 3D medium and long-range solid-state L-band surveillance and air defence radars. All products in this range use planar array antennas to form a number of spatially encoded beams in order to extract height information in real time. The 150 km range ESR 360VX system is a 3D local warning air defence radar derived from the highly successful ESR 360 air surveillance radar delivered to the South African Air Force for evaluation in 1995. This system combines high update rate target information from primary radar and IFF to air picture management and fire control stations located within a self-contained high mobility armoured shelter. The 200 km range ESR 360L system provides high accuracy 3D air surveillance and Ground Control Intercept (GCI) capability to operators housed in remote display shelters. This system makes use of a solid-state distributed transmitter and receiver housed within a composite-material antenna structure. High mast height allows performance unimpeded by nearby obstructions, thereby enhancing suitability for operation in the southern African environment. This system has, since 1997, been operated in numerous trials with the South African Air Force, and is currently undergoing further enhancements and systemisation. Technology developed for the ESR 360 variants has also been applied in the ESR 380. This system is a 400 km extended-range 3D air surveillance radar equally suited for mobile and fixed-site operation, and utilises advanced signal processing techniques in a 9-beam simultaneous-lobing configuration. All systems are available with integral Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), as well as a comprehensive Electronic Counter Countermeasures (ECCM) suite. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 11:34pm On Apr 13, 2012 |
Long after the presentation of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to the Spaniards, South Africa continues to receive praise from here and abroad for its expert handling of this global showcase. Integral to its success was the first ever operational deployment of Reutech Radar Systems’ two-dimensional ESR 220 Thutlwa – a rapid deployment local warning radar system. The South African Air Force and elements from other services and divisions of the SANDF were given the responsibility to secure the airspace around the World Cup stadia over the 40-day period of 30 May until 11 July 2010. The South African Army’s Air Defence Artillery drew on the ESR 220 Thutlwa’s local warning radars for deployment around the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Technical maintenance and support to ensure the full operational availability of the ESR 220 were a given. The SAAF generated its air picture from their static and mobile radars and that of Air Traffic Navigation. The deployment of the ESR 220 completed the picture by providing coverage where low-flying objects, such as micro-lights could usually be difficult to detect. The Joint Operation Centre received a real-time ADC (Air Defence Control) picture from the ESR 220, thereby supporting effective decision-making. Much as the tactical footwork of soccer’s finest was admired by enthusiasts of the game, the ESR 220 Thutlwa drew a great deal of The Friendly City’s attention as it travelled to its designated deployment sites. It’s not every day that Port Elizabeth residents get to see the Thutlwa escorted by both military and civil traffic services. As for Durban, the deployment was much more low-key, due to the Thutlwa’s location. At the same token, the security was strict throughout. With the fulfilling of Reutech Radar Systems’ mission statement of provision of superior solutions, the future application of the ESR 220 Thutlwa as an effective radar system, irrespective of the operational environment, remains secure. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 8:44pm On Apr 17, 2012 |
The consultative draft of the 2012 Defence Review states government will support “niche capability areas in which the South African defence and security industry has a demonstrable edge or potential to gain such edge.” Among these are precision guided weapons, fire direction systems and unmanned systems, the document says. It adds the focus of national support will be on exclusive local sourcing, insofar as practicable, based on military priorities. This includes: support of equipment, systems and weapons and the related training systems and facilities; manufacture of critical munitions; manufacture of critical, specialised batteries and other energy sources; manufacture of critical and high-rate-of-use spares and other stores; and, system integration, to allow optimisation of equipment and systems for specific Defence Force requirements; and to minimise political/strategic risk. In addition, the focus will include modernisation and upgrading of equipment and systems to extend service lives; development of specific critical equipment and systems; development of specific optimised equipment and systems; and sustained manufacture of equipment required in large numbers or amounts. “This will be accompanied by a focus on ensuring the commercial viability of South African defence products, particularly with an eye to their acquisition by other regional and continental armed forces, and cross-pollination of civilian and military capabilities,” the review further adds. Furthermore, the focus of that support will be on secure communications; information technology, including data-fusion technology; intelligence gathering, analysis and evaluation technology; electronic warfare technology; rugged tactical vehicles optimised for operations in the African theatre; mine and IED detection and protection technology; long-range artillery systems; chemical, biological and radiological defence; battlefield medical care optimised for the African theatre of operations; and modelling and simulation. It adds the “aerospace sector will be considered for inclusion in this group of key sectors, if it is believed that there is real potential to develop a viable product or viable capabilities in particular niche areas.” It may, for instance, be possible to expand South Africa’s capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial systems on the basis of existing capabilities in that field and in related fields, and on the basis of the airframe development capability resulting from UAV projects and the recently unveiled [Paramount Group/Aerosud] AHRLAC concept aircraft; develop the AHRLAC … into a viable operational system with real export potential; or to build on the Air Force’s medium to long-term requirements for combat support and medium transport helicopters to develop a local manufacturing capability and linked maintenance, repair and overhaul capability to support other helicopters in the wider region, the review reads. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 12:37pm On Apr 18, 2012 |
The acquisition focus of the South African National Defence Force in the near term will be on crisis response, border security and force projection as well as sustainment in a peace support context. That's the word from the 2012 Defence Review, released last Thursday. “Prioritisation of defence acquisition is driven by the interaction between the evolving strategic situation and the composition and equipment state of the Defence Force,” it reads. “This is, therefore, also an evolving process during which priorities will be adapted to match operational requirements.” From the medium term onwards, it will be necessary to re-equip the medium and heavy forces and the relevant supporting elements to ensure that they retain deterrent credibility and provide deployable peace enforcement and conflict containment capability. “Some of the projects to meet medium term requirements will have to commence during the near term to ensure that those capabilities are available in the medium term, partly because of the numbers required (for instance of vehicles, which are optimally built and delivered over an extended period) and partly because of long lead times (for instance in building and commissioning ships).” Immediate capability enhancement Capabilities that need immediate work, the review reads, include extending the Special Forces (SF). “Terrorism and paramilitary threats will be a factor that South Africa must reckon with in the near term and over the coming decades, both in the context of South Africa’s expanded regional security role and as direct challenges or threats. Countering those challenges or threats will require enhancing and expanding the capabilities of the SF by enhancing Special Forces capability requires acquisition of additional equipment, weapons and systems, which may include a small number of dedicated aircraft of several types for insertion/extraction operations; and expanding SF capability requires establishment of additional units focused on particular missions, for instance urban counter-terrorism, and the acquisition of the relevant equipment, weapons and systems.” A second challenge is border safeguarding. “The Defence Force has been assigned the mission of border safeguarding. This will require establishing additional units, and acquisition of equipment, weapons and systems optimised for that role, including agile, protected patrol vehicles; surveillance equipment, such as fixed and mobile acoustic, optronic and radar sensors and unmanned air vehicles, particularly micro-UAVs for patrol-level use; a static backbone communications system integrated with tactical air/ground and Police communications systems; non-lethal weapons of several kinds; and a data collation/fusion system to facilitate intelligence-led operations.” Third is airspace surveillance and protection. “A related requirement is for enhanced air space surveillance and protection, which will require acquisition of static, mobile and airborne radar systems able to acquire and track aircraft flying low and using terrain-masking; and aircraft able to intercept and shadow suspect aircraft flying at low altitudes and low speeds.” Next follows extended maritime security. “The expansion of Somali-based piracy into the Mozambique Channel has highlighted the importance and urgency of expanding South Africa’s maritime security capability. The immediate requirements include maritime surveillance or patrol aircraft; offshore patrol vessels; inshore patrol craft; additional shipboard helicopters; and equipment for shoreline patrols.” Fourth follows a crisis response capability. “South Africa’s expanding regional security responsibilities require the development of an effective crisis response capability beyond that inherent in Special Forces. This requires acquisition of suitable equipment and weapons for the parachute and air-landed battalion groups, including protected vehicles that can be transported by medium transport aircraft and light vehicles that can be delivered by parachute; expansion and rejuvenation of the medium airlift capability; establishment of a heavy/long-range airlift capability that, together with the expanded medium airlift capability, will enable the Defence Force to deploy a parachute battalion group or an air-landed battalion group within 48 hours from South Africa to anywhere within the continental SADC region, to support local forces; or a forward base within the SADC continental SADC region to anywhere in a contiguous country.” It further requires the establishment of an in-flight refuelling capability to enable effective fighters support for crisis response deployments; and to enable extended range Special Forces operations. Urgent capability enhancement Urgent capability enhancement requirements exist where Defence Force lacks adequate capability to perform likely near/medium term missions, and where existing equipment is obsolete and must be replaced if key capabilities are to be retained, the review avers. There are seven capability areas involved: Infantry Combat Vehicles. The mechanised infantry battalions have wide utility, being suited to peacekeeping in high-risk situations and to peace enforcement, and forming a key element of deterrent capability. The Ratel vehicle family is obsolete, old (30 years) and difficult to maintain, and must be replaced urgently if the mechanised infantry is to remain credible and effective. [Project Hoefyster] Armoured Personnel Carriers. Armoured personnel carriers are the main equipment of the motorised infantry battalions, which form the core of peace-support capability, and are vital elements of other units, including the medical battalion groups of the Military Health Service. There are three related requirements for new APCs: The Casspir and Mamba armoured personnel carriers of the motorised infantry no longer provide adequate protection against weapons available to irregular forces and bandits, are old (30 years) and difficult to maintain, and must be replaced urgently if these units are to remain effective; the Mfezi protected ambulances of the medical battalion groups are equally old and difficult to maintain, and must also be replaced; and the spread of improvised explosive devices into Africa further means that there is a requirement for ‘mine-resistant/ambush-protected’ (MRAP) patrol vehicles and personnel carriers to equip a proportion of these units. [Project Sapula]/Sepula] Logistic Vehicles. No defence force can function without reliable logistic vehicles that are suited to the nature of its operations and the terrain of the theatre of operations. The existing Samil fleet of trucks is old (30 years) and difficult to maintain, and will lack the mobility to effectively support modern combat vehicles. “The bulk of the fleet must be replaced with suitable vehicles, including protected variants, as a matter of urgency.” [Project Vistula] Light Artillery. Several recent conflicts in Africa have demonstrated an escalation in the capability and level of aggression of the forces involved, including serious attacks on peacekeeping units. “The Army needs light artillery that can be deployed quickly as a part of a rapid deployment peace support contingent, to provide counter-battery and defensive fires to protect airfields and bases. It currently has no such artillery, although a suitable 105 mm long-range gun and ammunition family are in development.” [Project Musuku/Masuku] Aerial Weapons. “The Air Force must urgently acquire suitable weapons for the Gripen, the Hawk (in its alternate light attack role) and the Rooivalk if these aircraft are to be able to support ground forces effectively.” Combat Support Ships. The extension of the Navy’s area of operations to include the Mozambique Channel and its approaches, and the likelihood of a further extension to counter piracy along the west coast of Africa, requires urgent acquisition of a second combat support ship to enable frigates and offshore patrol vessels to be employed efficiently. “That ship must be followed by replacement of SAS Drakensberg, which has been in service since 1987.” The review further reads that there are also many requirements for enabling or supporting equipment that is essential to the effective employment of deployed forces. Among them are the replacement of old and unsuitable water purification, field kitchen and field accommodation equipment; the replacement of obsolete field workshop equipment; the replacement of old field hospital equipment; and the re-establishment of the Air Force tactical airfield unit capability, to enable support of aircraft away from Air Force bases. “The Defence Force must also acquire communications systems and related equipment suited to both its deterrent role and its regional and continental security responsibilities.” Another urgent requirement is to acquire munitions and explosives of all kinds to allow effective live-fire and explosives training and the rebuilding of stocks. Longer-term force rejuvenation and capability expansion “Given the long-term nature of defence planning and defence acquisition planning, it is wise to also set out some key longer-term equipment requirements that will arise if the Defence Force is to remain an effective deterrent and is to meet South Africa’s regional security responsibilities,” the review' writers say. Some of these projects will have to be initiated in the near term if the required capabilities are to become available within a reasonable period, it adds. They include: Expeditionary Operations. “If the Defence Force is to meet South Africa’s growing regional and continental security responsibilities, it must develop the capability to deploy and sustain medium forces outside the SADC region. That will require the development of a sealift capability that will enable the deployment of a mobile battalion group in a single lift; and the retention of one sealift platform offshore the deployment area to serve as a secure helicopter base, headquarters and logistic base for the landed force, while follow on forces are brought up by air and sea. That will require acquisition of at least two and preferably three ‘joint support ships’ with full helicopter operations capability and the ability to deploy landing craft to allow forces to be put ashore in the absence of a functioning harbour.” [Project Millennium] Air Defence. “The Defence Force currently lacks any modern air defence weapons other than a single battery of very short range missiles (Starstreak). There are, therefore, clear requirements to acquire additional ‘very short range’ missiles to enable deployed units to protect themselves against air attack in a country in which a peace enforcement operation is taking place, be it by disaffected or hostile air force elements or by improvised attack aircraft such as used in Biafra in the 1960s and Sri Lanka in the 1990s; acquire mobile and mechanised air defence systems for medium forces that may be deployed for peace enforcement; and to ensure credible deterrence by providing for the protection of air bases, critical installations and deployed forces.” [GBADS: Projects Guardian, Outcome, Protector] Main Battle Tank. “The main battle tank remains a core element of mobile forces in the deterrent role, and recent operations in several parts of the world (including Bosnia and Kosovo) [as well as Iraq and Afghanistan] have demonstrated the very considerable value of the main battle tank in peace enforcement and similar operations. The current Olifant is essentially a [1940s] tank that has undergone several upgrades, and is now obsolete in almost all respects. While it can be retained for a time as a training system, it is no longer credible as part of deterrent capability and lacks the reliability to be effective in supporting a peace enforcement operation, and must, therefore, be replaced as soon as possible.” [Project Aorta] Medium Transport/Attack Helicopter. “While the Oryx will remain effective through 2020, it is essential to begin planning for its replacement now, as replacing the Oryx will probably require development of a ‘hot and high’ optimised variant of the type selected. That is a factor that could provide interesting opportunities for the South African industry, if the new helicopter will be acquired in numbers adequate to South Africa’s actual needs in the context of its regional and continental security responsibilities.” Those opportunities could include the development of the new variant together with the parent company (as was done with Oryx); the manufacture of the helicopter for the Air Force; the manufacture, in agreement with the parent company, of additional helicopters of this ‘hot and high’ variant for other air forces with similar requirements; and the development of a Rooivalk replacement on the basis of the new helicopter. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by TheDefender: 1:34pm On Apr 18, 2012 |
Hmmmm. south africans with sugarcoated mouth, everything for show off. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 6:09pm On Apr 18, 2012 |
The Defender: Hmmmm. south africans with sugarcoated mouth, everything for show off. At ;least we have something to show. Where is Nigeria's home grown advanced weapon industry or any other African nation for that matter |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by RSA(m): 10:01pm On Apr 18, 2012 |
You mean MEND419 SUPER MISSILE and BH BOMBER. PSS. BH stand for Boko Haram |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by TheDefender: 9:25am On Apr 19, 2012 |
There is something which you guys do not know. Nigeria millitary is a secret affair, it is not easy to know their full capacity unlike SA. And in the case of boko haram and mend, they are nothing to nigeria army. The problem is they operate among the citizens and will the army fire the citizens with them? NO! eradicating boko haram is the work of the security agencies. You cannot use boko haram and mend to guage the nigeria millitary strenght. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by TheDefender: 9:42am On Apr 19, 2012 |
If truly the Nigeria millitary is weak or not strong enough compare to other african countries, then why did the US chose them as number one in africa defence or peacekeeping among all other african countries including SA which claim to be the strongest. The US knows their strenght and knows they are the best for the job. Whether you accept or not that's the truth and SA cannot dare Nigeria. If you citizens are ignorant about that, your government knows it. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 5:44pm On Apr 19, 2012 |
The Defender: If truly the Nigeria millitary is weak or not strong enough compare to other african countries, then why did the US chose them as number one in africa defence or peacekeeping among all other african countries including SA which claim to be the strongest. The US knows their strenght and knows they are the best for the job. Whether you accept or not that's the truth and SA cannot dare Nigeria. If you citizens are ignorant about that, your government knows it. Can i see your source for that. I have this source http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=7047&lang=0 Or how about a USN SSNK in our harbor http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4552350-south-africa-nuclear-submarine-uss-manoeuvres Fact is all the books and reports i have seen have the west worried when about the condition of the nigerian army. Has for secrets All data online is a under estimation all nations do it They say it an go mach 2 when in real life it is mach 2.5. Has for invasion, why invade just destroy your oil economy and watch has you collapse pretty easy to since most facility's are on or near the water |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by andrewza: 5:47pm On Apr 19, 2012 |
The Defender: There is something which you guys do not know. Nigeria millitary is a secret affair, it is not easy to know their full capacity unlike SA. And in the case of boko haram and mend, they are nothing to nigeria army. The problem is they operate among the citizens and will the army fire the citizens with them? NO! eradicating boko haram is the work of the security agencies. You cannot use boko haram and mend to guage the nigeria millitary strenght. These reports are not compiled by the military they written by annalists and the companies that build our weapons, if you had to see some of the other stuff you would change your views |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 3:27pm On Apr 20, 2012 |
The South African Army has held a technology seminar at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. The CSIR's Defence, Peace, Safety and Security (DPSS) unit hosted the conference and an exhibition to the land service to showcase technologies that may be impacting on it in the medium to longer term (five to 20 years). The two-day event, which ended yesterday, addressed nine key areas: full spectrum protection, firepower and engagement, soldier systems, communications and communications electronics warfare, battle space awareness and sensors, mobility, autonomous and remotely controlled systems, command and control, as well as technologies for force planning and design. Brigadier General Lawrence Smith, General Officer Commanding 43 South African Brigade, said the conference would prepare the top structure of the SA Army for the future. “It gets them acquainted with the newest developments [in technology worldwide]” and improves their situational awareness in light of the draft consultative Defence Review released last week. “The focus is to provide background to direct short, medium and long-term technology development...” This document states the “intention of government is to maintain and further develop South Africa’s defence industry as a key national asset, and all national departments will be required to invest in the process and will utilise the industry’s capabilities.” Elsewhere, it cautions the “rapidly changing strategic environment requires [the military] to constantly adapt to new demands. This requires a balanced military force that can execute its function in pursuit of national security in the most efficient and effective way possible, across the spectrum of the defence mission, strategic tasks and strategic goals. Flexibility thus becomes an imperative.” |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 3:28pm On Apr 20, 2012 |
South Africa’s shipbuilding industry says it is still capable of locally building the new vessels required by the South African Navy, with a number of local companies competing to build inshore and offshore patrol vessels for Project Biro. A request for information for Biro-category vessels was issued last year and the navy expects to issue a request for quotations before the end of this year. The Navy also has the proposed Project Millennium landing dock ship requirement and Project Hotel requirement for a new hydrographic survey vessel. Rear Admiral Bernhard Teuteberg, Chief Director Maritime Strategy of the South African Navy (SAN), told Defenceweb at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium last week that a decision had been made on the ministerial level to build the Project Biro medium-sized vessels in South Africa. “And it’s written in the specs”, Teuteberg said, “so it’s very clearly understood by everybody. I have no doubt about it.” For Biro, Nautic Africa (formerly KND Projects) is offering the Gowind class offshore patrol vessels, which, according to CEO James Fisher, “are the most modern vessels being offered to the Navy.” In September last year it was announced that DCNS and KND Naval Design (which contracts work to Nautic Africa) had signed a memorandum of understanding for the promotion, construction and sale of Gowind vessels in South Africa. The Gowind class vessel L’Adroit is currently being trialled by the French Navy and will visit South Africa in September. Fisher said he was excited about offering the Gowind class to the Navy as the Project Biro requirements match it perfectly. “We are very confident in our offering,” Fisher said, as Nautic Africa is a local company that produces vessels on time and budget. For the Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) component of Biro, Nautic Africa has a partnership with Austal in Australia to built under license their Cape Class patrol vessels. Australia’s Customs and Border Protection service recently ordered eight of the type, which will be delivered in 2013, with the full fleet becoming operational in 2015. The 58 metre long Cape Class vessels will be able to undertake 28 day patrols, have a range of 4 000 nautical miles and simultaneously launch two boats. Armament comprises two deck mounted heavy machineguns. Top speed is 25 knots. “It’s a commercial no-brainer that that business should be done in South Africa,” Fisher said, referring to Project Biro and other work. “We should be supplying all vessels in Africa at this stage.” Fisher was confident in the abilities of his company to produce vessels of European-standard quality, but at a 30% cheaper rate. However, he emphasised the fact that lifetime support is just as important – if not more so – than initial acquisition cost. Fisher told defenceWeb that Nautic Africa not only designs and constructs ships but also offers long-term support and assistance throughout the whole life cycle of a vessel, including training, construction, delivery, maintenance and overhaul. He said that many of the ships bought from Asia by African countries have shortcomings, especially with regard to maintenance and spares – indeed, Fisher believes this is the greatest shortcoming of many foreign vessels. Indeed, Teuteberg said that, “only 20 percent of the cost of an OPV is acquisition. Eighty percent goes into the life-cycle of that vessel. We have to ensure that we have the ability in South Africa, to maintain, redevelop if necessary, where necessary, in time.” If a contract with the Navy is signed, Nautic Africa will partner with the MK Veteran’s Association, which is “a group that has been ignored,” according to Fisher. At the Defence Industry Day in Pretoria on March 22, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu said she wants to see more military veterans employed in the local defence industry, in addition to increased black economic empowerment. She said the defence industry should look at ways and means to incorporate more military veterans into the industry’s economic stream by offering employment and/or training and by doing business with military veterans-linked organisations. “Before we give out any tender we should ensure that military veterans are taken care of.” Outside of Africa, Fisher said he saw opportunity for Nautic Africa in Mozambique and Tanzania with the new oil and gas finds there. In addition, Nigeria and Ghana have bought 11 patrol/oil and gas support vessels from Nautic Africa and have another five on order. However, a big problem is the lack of funds hampering navies in the region, as many smaller countries in Africa cannot afford vessels to protect against piracy, illegal fishing and other challenges at sea. Indeed, the chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Refiloe Johannes Mudimu, said that a lack of vessels was the greatest challenge navies in the region faced when combating maritime insecurity. Nautic Africa hopes to overcome the financial barrier through financing packages. In addition, Nautic Africa is busy refurbishing a South Africa Navy Namacurra class harbour patrol boat for Mozambique as part of the Navy’s initiative to strengthen the Mozambican navy. The SAN has also trained Mozambican personnel as South Africa seeks to control piracy and other maritime threats in the region. Meanwhile, Southern African Shipyards is in partnership with Germany’s Lurssen to offer its vessels to the South African Navy. Prasheen Maharaj, Executive Director of the company, told defenceWeb that the main offering for Biro is the Lurssen Patrol Vessel PV 80, with a length of 80 metres, a speed of 22 knots and a displacement of 1 625 t. The ship comes equipped with a flight deck and can launch and recover a boat from a stern dock. Four of these vessels have been built, including three for Brunei. “We’re the biggest shipyard in southern Africa. We have the best capability without further investment,” Maharaj said, emphasising the company’s previous capabilities, including the construction of the SAS Drakensberg supply vessel and the Navy’s strike craft and minehunters. “We have the ability to meet South Africa’s shipbuilding needs.” However, he added that, “some of these needs require partnerships,” such as for the Biro requirement. For Project Hotel, Maharaj said that his company is leaving itself open to be a local subcontractor to the preferred prime contractor. Another local company, Veecraft Marine, has partnered with the German firm Abeking & Rasmussen for Projects Biro and Hotel. According to Friedrich Jacobi, Chief Representative of Abeking & Rasmussen, the partnership is offering its SWATH Offshore Patrol Boat. The Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design features torpedo-like hull bodies that are submerged while the rest of the shp remains above water to provide excellent stability and high speeds in rough seas. Abeking & Rasmussen’s SWATH range features vessels from 25 to 75 metres in length. Recently the company sold 25 metre long SWATH vessels to the Latvian Navy. The model has a crew of 8, endurance of 1 week, range of 1 000 nautical miles and a speed of 20 knots. Due to the twin-hull design, a 20 foot container with a maximum weight of 6 t can be mounted in between the hulls and changed within a couple of hours depending on the mission. Weapons options include two heavy machineguns and one 35 mm gun. The same model is being offered for the Inshore Patrol Vessel component of Biro while a 70 metre long vessel with a helicopter deck is being offered for the Offshore Patrol Vessel component. If Veecraft/Abeking & Rasmussen receive contracts from the South African Navy, Abeking & Rasmussen will build the first ship in Germany to prove that all systems meet specifications, while the remainder of the ships will be built in South Africa. Veecraft has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Navantia to market its Avante class offshore and inshore patrol vessels to the South African Navy. The Avante 3000 Patrol vessel has a length of 93 metres, accommodation for 70 people, a range of 8 000 nautical miles and an endurance of 35 days. A flight deck and hangar provide space for a medium helicopter while cranes can deploy and retrieve two rigid hull inflatable boats. Armament includes a 76/62 mm gun, two 25 mm weapons stations, and two 12.7 mm machine guns. Apart from Biro, Southern African Shipyards is supplying two tugboats for the Simons Town naval base under Project Canter. “It will be practicable to build all the patrol vessels in South Africa, to existing designs,” said Jane’s Information Group correspondent Helmoed Heitman. “That will reduce the negative impact of the expenditure and could establish a ship-building industry to support the offshore oil and gas industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.” |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 3:29pm On Apr 20, 2012 |
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is for the first time taking part in Exercise Lion Effort in Sweden, a tactical exercise intended to enhance interoperability between Gripen user countries. Four SAAF Gripens are among 30 of the fighters from Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Lion Effort kicked off on Tuesday and is scheduled to run to April 5. The initial phase of the exercise consists of familiarisation flights, with the main exercise elements taking place between April 1 and 4. Familiarisation flights include visual identification (VID) exercises, 1 vs 1 and 2 vs 2 air-to-air engagements, and close air support (CAS) missions. During the familiarisation phase the participants are flying in three waves per day. The exercise is being held in an operational area 70 by 200 nautical miles in size and involves around 300 people. Missions will be flown both by single-nation formations and in composite air operations, in which pilots from the different Gripen squadrons co-operate together. Various ground and seaborne assets will also participate in the exercise over the Baltic Sea. Aircraft began assembling at Ronneby, Sweden, for the exercise earlier this week, and began familiarisation flights yesterday. The four SAAF Gripens taking part in Lion Effort are the last four to be handed over to the air force, and they have been held back in Sweden so that the SAAF can participate in the exercise with its own machines. On October 8 last year South Africa received its penultimate Gripen shipment when four C models arrived in Cape Town harbour. South Africa has nine two-seat (D model) and 17 single-seat (C model) Gripens on order. “It’s a magnificent training opportunity for us,” said Colonel Pierre Venter, SAAF contingent commander, “and it is unique in the sense of its format and our ability to be here.” Although the aircraft were already in Sweden, the SAAF contingent arrived at the start of the week and has established itself quickly, Saab reports. “After our third day in the field here, I’m very happy to send communications back home that we’re ready for the first flying,” said Venter. “Many of our contingent have not travelled abroad before. Coming here has been all just positive. It’s brought out a lot of good character.” Venter said the SAAF was in the early stages of building up a Gripen capability and would benefit from operating alongside more experienced users. “Through the exercise we can benchmark, learn, share, and get exposure for handling the platform, and how we approach deployments.” The South African contingent has 40 members (including fighter pilots from 2 Squadron), plus three technical representatives and a test pilot from Saab, who are in Sweden as part of the ongoing Gripen technical support package. “We have set up a deployment capability,” said Venter, “and the Saab element here is the interface for problem solving, spares and technical solutions.” As well as flight and maintenance personnel, the contingent includes other branches of the SAAF, such as representatives from the communications, flight safety, finance and legal sectors. For Venter, now commander of the Air Force Command and Control School, the exercise provides an opportunity to come back to the country where he was defence attaché for four years. “I was involved in some of the planning conferences for the exercise,” said Venter. “Now, stepping back into this contingent commander’s role, seeing the components in action, is magnificent.” The South African Air Force said the exercise will provide the fighter line with much needed exposure, test the operational deployment ability of the Gripen and training of air and ground crews in multinational operations. It added that by participating in this exercise the SAAF and South African National Defence Force will be exposed to Composite Air Operations (CAMAO) training, Large Force Employment and Offensive and Defensive Air Support. “This exposure and the knowledge gained will benefit the SAAF and the SANDF for future operations in Africa.” For Lion Effort the Czech Republic sent three aircraft (two Cs and a D) from 211 Squadron at Cáslav’s 21st Air Base, together with three Aero L-159 light combat aircraft. Saab notes that the Czech air force passed the 10 000-hour milestone with its 14 Gripen C/Ds in September 2010, and a year later Major Otakar Prikner became the first Czech pilot to pass the 1 000-hour mark. In the lead-up to the exercise two Czech pilots qualified for in-flight refuelling. They operated from Ronneby and refuelled from the Swedish air force’s TP 84T Hercules tanker. “It’s a perfect opportunity to co-operate within the Gripen nations,” said Czech Major Petr Michenka. “We can share experiences and co-operation across a wide scale now.” Shortly after Lion Effort the Czech air force plans to return to Sweden with three Gripen Cs for a live-firing campaign at the Vidsel range in the north. Hungary has sent five aircraft from the ‘Puma’ squadron of the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kecskemét. The Hungarian Gripens arrived at Ronneby from Vidsel in northern Sweden, from where they conducted a firing campaign over the surrounding test range with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. On January 30 Hungary announced that it would extend its leasing agreement for 12 Gripen Cs and two Gripen Ds for another 10 years from 2016. Although Thailand is not flying aircraft in the exercise, observers are taking an active interest in the daily operations, acquiring knowledge that they can take back to the Royal Thai Air Force. Thailand acquired an initial batch of six Gripens, which was officially declared as operational in July last year. The country has ordered a second batch of six Gripens, to be delivered in 2013. Around 15 Swedish Gripens are participating in the exercise. They come from both the home wing (F 17) at Ronneby and the Tactical and Operational Evaluation Unit (TUJAS) at Malmen. The Swedish Air Force has experience from Operation Karakal, the Swedish contribution to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector over Libya. Gripens flew air policing and reconnaissance missions during Karakal, marking the aircraft’s combat debut. One of Sweden’s Saab 340 Erieye airborne warning and control aircraft is also scheduled to take part in the exercise. The first Lion Effort exercise was held in 2009 in Hungary, and the next one is planned for 2015 in the Czech Republic. |
| Re: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by Thiza: 3:30pm On Apr 20, 2012 |
South Africa and Germany yesterday wrapped up the joint naval exercise Good Hope V, which was commanded by South Africans for the first time. The large-scale exercise between the South African Navy, Air Force and the German Navy takes place off the waters of South Africa on a biennial basis. It is the largest undertaken by the German Task Force Group outside of its NATO obligations. This year, however, financial considerations and the counter piracy commitments of both navies have meant that Exercise Good Hope V was scaled down when compared to previous years. The aim of Exercise Good Hope V was to conduct exercises that would facilitate the sharing of expertise in general and anti-piracy operations in particular, thus enhancing the SA Navy’s capability in terms of anti-piracy operations within the Mozambican channel. As Captain Micky Girsa, Commander Combined Maritime Task Group and Commanding Officer of SAS Amatola, explained, “although the global objective of Good Hope exercises between the German and South African forces has always been to conduct joint multi-national exercises focused on conventional warfare, this specific interaction has focused more on the asymmetric threat of anti-piracy.” “This in itself is a first,” he continued. For Exercise Good Hope V, the German Navy was represented by FSG Lübeck, a frigate returning from Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s Naval Force counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. The Lübeck is equipped with two Lynx Mk 88 helicopters and a Marine boarding team. The Lübeck was to join SAS Isandlwana, the South African frigate involved with anti-piracy operations in the Mozambique Channel (Operation Copper), with the two vessels sailing south from Durban to Simon’s Town together. The Isandlwana is equipped with a Super Lynx maritime helicopter. However, Lübeck’s arrival in Durban was delayed by two days due to tropical cyclone Irene. The crew of the Lübeck had to endure wind speeds of up to 80 knots (150 km/h) with eight metre swells. The two frigates eventually left Durban on 9 March and performed numerous sea exercises during their passage to the Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town. These exercises included a strong emphasis on anti-piracy operations. The requirement for such exercises was brought home when, whilst on patrol off Somalia in January, the Lübeck forced Somali pirates to release an Indian dhow with 15 Indian mariners held as hostages. Other exercises included boarding operations (from both boats and helicopters), Maritime Domain Awareness, simulated anti-ship missile firings and seamanship and manoeuvring exercises. Time was also spent on gunnery from the ships and helicopters. Boarding teams consisting of Special Forces and Maritime Reaction Squadron personnel from South Africa as well as Marines from Germany. These units operated as mixed teams and according to both South African and German officers, no problems were experienced and all members worked well together. However, conventional warfare was not ignored because, as Girsa clarified, “this would be foolish on both parts.” Once they had reached Cape waters, the Task Group was joined by the South African frigate SAS Amatola and submarine SAS Queen Modjadji 1. Together with an Air Force C-47 TP Dakota maritime patrol aircraft, the Task Group undertook numerous anti-submarine warfare sorties for the benefit of the ships, helicopters and submarine. This included engagement of simulated hostile surface vessels found and identified by the Dakota. “Amongst all the serials mentioned, one of the highlights was the inclusion of a Dipper [Lynx equipped with a dipping sonar],” Girsa espoused. “This profound ability proved to be advantageous and of great value to the combined force, especially the submarine who was tasked to evade detection and engage the force as best as possible.” This was ably done by SAS Queen Modjadji 1, commanded by Cdr Neville Howell. Operating under home-town advantage, he was able to surprise the German participants by being extremely evasive. “The submarine gave us a hard time trying to find them!” exclaimed Capt Eike Wetters, commander of the German Navy Task Group. This, he explained, was because the submarine took advantage of the deep water and varying temperatures at different depths. Wetters said that it was not enough to perform anti-submarine training on simulators as live exercises were required for optimal experience. “From the German side, we are very happy to have…these anti-submarine warfare exercises. You need live exercises with a real submarine.” Girsa concluded that as proud as he was of the South African forces that were placed under his operational control for this exercise, “I must state that it has been only a pleasure operating with the German ship Lubeck and all her affiliations. They are indeed professional in every aspect and an asset to the German Navy.” To which Wetters added, “overall, Exercise Good Hope has been of great value, was planned and professionally led by the South African Navy and successfully conducted by all participants.” Planning is already proceeding for Exercise Good Hope VI, which will be held in 2014. “Despite financial pressure and training for several other operational commitments, it has been and still is the German Navy’s (commitment)...to maintain the momentum of this exercise series. I stress that because we have had to scale down the German contingent to a lone frigate here, this exercise…has been a success from our point of view, stressing that it is not always the number that counts, it’s the quality of the training,” concluded Wetters. The current exercise concludes on 25 March, after which the Lübeck returns to Germany. |
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