₦airaland Forum

GreenandGold:
...have I been sleeping under a rock, when did this even happen?

Never mind that. It's Friday, let's talk about infinitely more civilised matters:
The 15 Best Japanese Restaurants in Cape Town

https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/japanese-restaurants/?fbclid=IwAR1Q6cca3CLv83NJ3GHUzW8iU0BEAFclS_Dg0J3YhvCBJIUZ233p5EqijNI_aem_AbqnnZ1V0C_DPGfI3knnf9AAL9uXVlacLp92vPu_ocwKRLSUHC0LNZ96G1yjL0wxZbhiO1Jb9nbVS8ek5RdbIFp9

DCD launches new vehicle as it celebrates its 125th anniversary

DCD Protected Mobility launched a new weapons platform vehicle at its fourth military attache and advisory corps (MAAC) demonstration day, which witnessed its armoured vehicles fire weapons and take landmine hits during demonstrations at the Paardefontein test range outside Pretoria.

The 2023 MAAC Day, held on 19 July, celebrated the 125th anniversary of the establishment of DCD’s predecessor in 1898. The company began manufacturing armoured vehicles during World War II and now DCD Protected Mobility focusses primarily on its Husky route clearance vehicle and Springbuck armoured personnel carrier. Twenty-five countries are using DCD vehicles, including 15 for the Husky, which has survived some 7 500 mine/improvised explosive device hits without direct casualty.

The Springbuck is available in multiple configurations, including ambulance, command and control, explosive ordnance disposal, border patrol etc. Eight countries in Africa are using the Springbuck for African Union or United Nations missions.

The latest addition to the Springbuck fleet is a weapons carrier version, and this was unveiled to dozens of guests at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) Paardefontein range on Wednesday. Company officials said the weapons carrier will be able to fit 14.5 mm cannons or 60 or 80 mm mortars – at Paardefontein it was fitted with a ZSU-23-2 cannon.

Unlike unarmoured ‘technicals’ fitted with weapons on the back, the DCD offering has mine and ballistic protection. The company said it is a concept DCD will develop with its African partners. The Springbuck weapons carrier is presently fitted with a single cab, but in future will have an extended cab for the weapon crew.

DCD’s demonstration day ended with the launch of the new vehicle, but started with a showcase of its existing products. First up was a route clearance demonstration by a Husky 2G mine detection vehicle fitted with a Chelton AMULET vehicle-mounted explosive ordnance detection system. A Husky 3G fitted with an interrogator arm dug up suspected threats identified by the first vehicle. The arm can extend over three metres and can excavate and lift cached items weighing up to 70 kg.

The mobility of Springbuck and Sherp vehicles were demonstrated to assembled guests, with the amphibious Sherp 4×4 blasting through a pond – the go-anywhere vehicle inflates and deflates its tyres rapidly using engine exhaust gas, allowing quick adaptation to different terrain. DCD is marketing the Ukrainian-designed Sherp, which can carry up to nine passengers, excluding the driver, with a 1,200kg payload capacity.

Drones buzzed overhead to capture the action, or, in the case of Aquila Viour’s Alto unmanned helicopter, relay communications and command and control data. The helicopter was fitted with Global Command and Control Technologies’ Chaka command and control system.

Moving to the test range, the firepower demonstration portion of the day witnessed RPG-7s fired by SA National Defence Force Special Forces members, and the Husky and Springbuck demonstrate light and heavy machineguns from their weapons turrets (the Husky can be fitted with a defensive turret). Manned turrets can take machineguns from 7.62 to 14.5 mm or 40 mm grenade launchers while a remotely operated weapon station can accommodate a 12.7 mm machinegun.

The ability of DCD vehicles to withstand anti-tank and anti-personnel mines was demonstrated first by a Springbuck fitted with steel wheels detonating multiple anti-personnel mines – guests had the opportunity to ride inside while the vehicle went over a minefield. A 6 kg charge was then detonated under a Husky – the vehicle had almost no visible damage after the blast, and even the tyres remained fully inflated. Next it was the turn of a Springbuck, which had a 6 kg charge detonated under the left rear wheel to simulate an anti-tank mine hit. The wheel and rim were destroyed, but both the Husky and Springbuck were quickly repaired and driven back to the staging area for guests to inspect.
A simulated anti-tank landmine charge detonating under a DCD Springbuck.

To highlight the damage mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inflict on unprotected vehicles, DCD detonated a 6 kg charge underneath a commercial van to simulate an anti-tank mine – the vehicle was completely obliterated and literally torn to shreds.

As Paardefontein is a CSIR facility, the Council had a chance to expose guests to some of its detonics, ballistics and explosives research and testing capabilities – its facilities are regularly used to test and qualify armoured vehicles. On Wednesday guests had the chance to witness the detonation of a charge under its human response test rig (HRTR) – a reusable V-hull device fitted with test equipment inside.

Nearly two dozen DCD vehicles took part in what was DCD’s biggest MAAC day yet, growing on previous iterations in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The event was also well supported by DCD partners, including Tactical Defence Solutions, which supplied the weapons, Redeployable Camp Systems (field accommodation), Military Products (uniforms and equipment), Global Command and Control Technologies (Chaka command and control system and Impi tracker), Rajant (communications systems), TAU Aerospace and Advanced Technologies/Safomar Technologies (unmanned aerial vehicles), Bluvec (optical sensors), GEW (electronic warfare systems), and Chelton (antennas and avionics).

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/dcd-launches-new-vehicle-as-it-celebrates-its-125th-anniversary/

As some of us said a few months ago, Putin will NOT be coming to the BRICS Summit in SA.
And not because he feared arrest, but because it was strategically stupid to place the SA govt in the position of having to choose between breaking SA law and placating Russia, our inconsequential 58th largest trading partner. Especially when Russia needs all the friends it can get currently.

https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/press-statements/south-africa-finalises-15th-brics-summit-format

The Summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov.

...last.

Malaysian Army Firepower Exercise 2023 with the Denel G5 Howitzer and the AV8 Gempita IFV armed with the Denel LCT30 turret and Ingwe ATGM.

Odunayaw, another one! Will be available shortly.

GreenandGold:
Off-topic

@Lurker4Long

I know the inland snow craze has settled, everyone was talking about the Highveld getting snow, but seeing it overlooking Nelpruit was something else.... my pic being the last one... potato camera, I know

Madness, I tell you. You're practically at the border with tropical Mozambique; should never ever snow around your neighbourhood.

Egypt donates vehicles, howitzers and other hardware to Niger

Egypt has donated a large amount of military hardware to Niger’s military to help it combat jihadist terror groups operating in the region.

The consignment was handed over on 7 July and according to Niger’s Ministry of National Defence, included 30 BRMD-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicles, 12 122 mm M-30 howitzers, 12 mortars, 50 AK-47 assault rifles, 300 assault rifles (apparently FN FALs), 1 900 pistols, and a significant quantity of ammunition.

Jane’s reported that the mortars appeared to be Egyptian-made 82 mm Helwan M-69s, and some of the small arms included Port Said submachineguns, and Egyptian-made RPG-7 rocket launchers.

Nigerien Defence Minister Alkassoum Indatou said the delivery of weaponry was a significant move in light of the difficult security context of the region and would strengthen Niger’s armed forces to deal with its many current challenges. He added that “this very important gesture” by Egypt shows its solidarity with Niger “in a very difficult security context” in the Sahel region.

During the handover ceremony at the Central Equipment Department (DCMAT) in Niamey, Indatou noted that Egypt is also training special forces from the Nigerien army.

Egyptian Ambassador Sayed Mohamed Ahmed Elsalahey said Egypt intends to improve military cooperation with Niger, including training, research and military industries.

Niger has received or ordered a variety of military hardware over the last several years as it battles terrorists, including from Boko Haram. Last year, for example, Niger ordered armoured personnel carriers from Turkey’s Nurol Makina, in addition to several Bayraktar TB 2 unmanned aerial vehicles and Turkish Aerospace Industries Hurkus turboprop trainer/light attack aircraft.

In another donation, the German military in November supplied fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles, offroad vehicles and other equipment to Niger’s armed forces. In September, the United States handed over eight OTT Puma M36 vehicles to Niger, along with 43 Toyota Land Cruisers and other equipment worth $13 million.

In January Niger received a third and final C-130 Hercules transport aircraft from the United States and last year accepted two Gazelle helicopters provided for counter-terror operations by France, as well as two AB 412 helicopters from Italy. Two more AB 412s are scheduled for delivery this year.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/egypt-donates-vehicles-howitzers-and-other-hardware-to-niger/

Damen Shipyards Cape Town delivering the 2nd Warrior-class MMIPV for the SA Navy to Simonstown, to begin sea trials. When commissioned in October, she will be known as SAS King Shaka Zulu.

Meanwhile, in Mozambique...

"The Eye of the Needle", in the Drakensberg.

SAAF randoms.

ISS: MINUSMA leaves Mali – will regional leaders step up on security?

On 30 June the United Nations (UN) Security Council voted unanimously to end the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as of 31 December 2023. The vote follows a request by Mali’s transitional government for the mission to be withdrawn ‘without delay.’

MINUSMA was deployed in July 2013. Northern Mali had been occupied by armed groups in 2012, and was liberated by the Franco-African military intervention launched in January 2013.

In May 2022 Mali withdrew from the G5 Sahel and soon after that, the French-led Barkhane and Takuba forces departed the country. The end of MINUSMA marks another step in dismantling the international security response to the crisis in Mali and the Sahel.

Cracks appeared between Bamako and Paris as early as January 2013 over the liberation of Kidal. But the active deconstruction of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms was triggered by Mali’s realignment with Russia after the West African country’s second coup in May 2021, and the ensuing diplomatic crisis with France. Mali’s decision to explore new military alliances reflects a dissatisfaction with the partnerships forged over the past decade. Lessons must be learnt from this.

Diplomatic and geopolitical tensions – exacerbated by the polarisation between the West and Russia over the Ukraine war – have also tested Mali’s regional partnerships. Relations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and G5 Sahel were most affected. Mali’s transitional authorities perceive both bodies as being under French influence.

France’s leading role in MINUSMA’s initial political and military set-up and its position as the penholder on the Malian situation at the UN Security Council have fed successive Malian governments’ suspicion about the mission.

As a result, the transitional authorities have denounced the politicisation of human rights issues by Western powers, after civilian deaths and abuses occurred during operations carried out by the Malian Armed Forces since 2022. This is in addition to the limitations of MINUSMA’s military mandate, which mainly provided for stabilisation operations and didn’t meet the country’s counter-terrorism objectives.

However, Mali’s demand for the withdrawal of MINUSMA carries significant political, security and humanitarian risks for the country and the region. Although the government seems confident in its ability to assume full control post-MINUSMA, a clearly defined alternative strategy is needed.

At this stage, enhanced military cooperation with Russia and bilateral collaboration with some immediate neighbours seem to be at the heart of Mali’s strategy. However, the authorities must remember that solutions from outside Africa that entail financial or technical dependency come with external constraints that could affect their durability and effectiveness.

MINUSMA’s withdrawal and the cross-border nature of the risks facing the Sahel and West Africa also call on the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to play a greater role in supporting Mali’s government efforts.

These African organisations must draw lessons from their interventions when the crisis started. They effectively steered political dialogue between Malian actors in the early days, and mobilised troops to recover the country’s occupied regions. But they were sidelined in the organisation and management of the political and military response in 2013. Amid a leadership struggle, the UN Security Council favoured MINUSMA over the African-led International Support Mission to Mali.

Most importantly, the AU and ECOWAS must listen to the needs expressed by Mali, despite its suspension from these organisations.

Support from the AU, through its Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), should prioritise a political approach aimed at stabilising the situation in the short term. MISAHEL does however, need the necessary financial and human resources for the task.

ECOWAS can offer an appropriate framework for tackling regional challenges. Its member states have advocated for a political approach to transitional regimes, and a security response that supports the Accra Initiative – a coalition of West African countries aimed at preventing terrorism spreading from the Sahel.

Regarding Mali’s internal political and security challenges, the AU and ECOWAS should muster the necessary diplomatic resources to support the international mediation led by Algeria. The goal would be to relaunch the implementation of the peace agreement. Algeria’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in January will facilitate African efforts in this direction.

In consultation with the countries concerned, the AU and ECOWAS should facilitate the resumption of Mali’s dialogue at the highest level. This could restore confidence between central Sahel states and revitalise their regional security cooperation. A framework for exchanging experiences and improving counter-terrorism responses should be considered.

A holistic approach will be vital. In addition to military interventions, non-military measures such as incentivising combatants to disengage from violent extremist groups are needed. Groups can also be weakened by targeting their supply and funding chains, and delivering essential public services to vulnerable areas.

The withdrawal of MINUSMA paves the way for more assertive African leadership in addressing the Sahel’s insecurity. It provides an opportunity to constructively redefine multilateral relations in a region that has seen damaging institutional rivalries between the UN, AU, ECOWAS, G5 Sahel and, to a lesser extent, the Accra Initiative. It also enables ECOWAS and the AU to implement African solutions.

National and multilateral players should act on the lessons learnt from 10 years of intervention in the Sahel. The region is at a crossroads and will find it hard to withstand the shock of another decade of instability.

Written by Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné, Sahel Project Manager, Djiby Sow, Senior Researcher and Hassane Koné, Senior Researcher, ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel Basin and Lake Chad.

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/minusma-leaves-mali-will-regional-leaders-step-up-on-security

RDM aiming to double production, expand facilities as artillery demand soars

Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) is running 24-hour-a-day shifts at its plants across South Africa and is investing hundreds of millions of rands in their expansion in order to keep up with the massive global demand for artillery ammunition.

This was revealed by RDM CEO Jan-Patrick Helmsen during a recent military attache demonstration at the company’s Boskop facility outside Potchefstroom. Helmsen explained that with the current unstable, uncertain world at the moment, countries are spending on their national security and the defence business globally is doing well. Particularly in Europe, the trend of shrinking defence budgets is reversing. Indeed, global military spending again exceeded $2 trillion last year.

There is huge demand for artillery around the world at present as countries are seeing that their magazines are empty and have realised they have little war stock. RDM has received tens of millions of euros worth of orders over the last year, mainly for 155 mm and 40 mm ammunition – one Asian customer recently ordered 400 000 rounds of 40 mm ammunition.

These orders are keeping the company’s 2 441 employees busy across its five sites: Laingsdale, which focuses on fuses and safe/arming devices, employs 160 people; the Wellington facility, which focuses on energetic explosive and raw materials, employs 185; the Somerset West facility, which produces multi-calibre propellant and 40 mm grenades, employs 1 202 people; Boskop does explosive loading, assembly and packing as well as plant engineering and employs 520 people; and Boksburg carries out steel forging of artillery and mortar shells and aircraft bomb cases and employs 374 people.

Boksburg has the capacity to produce 100 000 shells a year, but with a substantial investment of hundreds of millions of rands, the intention is to increase this to 150 000 shells a year, Helmsen told defenceWeb. The Somerset West facility can manufacture 400 000 charges a year, but the company aims to ramp this up to 600 000 a year.

RDM was established in 2008 after Rheinmetall acquired a 51% stake in the loss-making Denel Munitions. The 51% stake was important because it gave Rheinmetall control over the company and this is important as “we know how to make businesses,” Helmsen said. Although Denel is struggling at the moment, the new management has a plan to go big again, and RDM will support them and help them in the market.

Since establishment, RDM has been growing from strength to strength. In 2022, the Rheinmetall Group’s weapons and ammunition division recorded an operating result growth of 40%, as well as a new all-time high in incoming orders, amounting to around three billion euros. Two-thirds of the growth can be attributed to Rheinmetall Denel Munition. According to Rheinmetall, “this development clearly reflects the increased demand of ammunition by the armed forces of many countries, in Europe and elsewhere”.

For the group, the 848 million euro multi-year contract for the supply of various types of ammunition to the Hungarian armed forces and the 192 million euro contract for the delivery of an explosives factory in the same country are “particularly noteworthy”, with RDM heavily involved in these contracts.

As a whole, Rheinmetall saw operating profits grow by 27% in 2022 to 754 million euros, with a record order book of 26.6 billion euros. For 2023, the group expects that “sales will continue to grow with stable high margins”. In particular, consolidated sales are forecast to increase from 6.4 billion euros in 2022 to 7.4-7.6 billion euros this year.

Announcing its 2022 financial results earlier this year, Rheinmetall’s chief executive Armin Papperger said the group remains “on a very positive trajectory” and “takes responsibility in a changing world.” According to the CEO, “the epochal shift” triggered by the war by Russia against Ukraine has ushered in “a new era for Rheinmetall”. Numerous countries have recognized “the urgent need to step up their efforts for security”.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/editors-pick/rdm-aiming-to-double-production-expand-facilities-as-artillery-demand-soars/

Gabon Air Force to acquire a C295 transport aircraft under a loan agreement

Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba recently gave the greenlight for a CFA31 billion ($52 million) loan to purchase an Airbus C295 military transport aircraft for the country’s Air Force.

The decision for the loan to be secured from Spain’s Santander Bank was taken during a recent cabinet meeting on 26 June, chaired by the president. The meeting approved a draft legal text from the executive requesting authorisation to go ahead with the plan.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the President requested the government to approve the loan in line with the country’s constitution.

“This draft text, adopted in application of the provisions of article 47 of the Constitution, authorises the state of Gabon to contract a loan for an amount of €47 676 067,” reads a part of the communiqué.

“The funds from this specific loan will be used by the Gabonese government to purchase a CASA C295 MTA aircraft in order to enhance the operational capabilities of the Air Force,” it added.

It is not clear when the loan will be obtained or when the country will take delivery of the aircraft. Airbus has not registered the order yet. The acquisition accounts for about 20% of Gabon’s 2023 defence budget.

Gabon’s Air Force already flies a CN235M, which first flew in 1991. It was recently overhauled by Airbus in Spain. Several C-130 Hercules/L-100s remain in storage. The Air Force has few serviceable aircraft aside from a Puma, three Gazelles, an ATR 42 (for VIP use), a Falcon 900 (for VIP use). The fighter force comprises six former South African Air Force Mirage F1 AZ fighters; to further assist training fighter pilots, South Africa supplied two MB326 Impalas in 2013.

The Garde Republicaine Gabona flies a couple of EC135T2+ helicopters, two EC120Bs, and an EC225LP Super Puma.

Gabon has been acquiring numerous batches of military hardware over the last decade. In 2019 it emerged that the Chinese VN1 8×8 armoured vehicles were in service with Gabon – this is an export variant based on the ZBL-08 (Type 08) IFV that is fully amphibious, weighing 21 tonnes. Other relatively recently delivered hardware includes Dongfeng EQ2050 vehicles and, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 19 Type-07P infantry fighting vehicles, also from China.

Gabon took delivery of eight Aravis IFVs from French company Nexter between 2015 and 2016 and 24 Matador APCs from Paramount in 2010, followed by ten Maverick internal security vehicles. Five VAB-VTT vehicles were supplied second hand by France for Gabon’s UN peacekeeping forces. Last year Chinese VP11 4×4 armoured vehicles were seen in service for the first time.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/gabon-air-force-to-acquire-a-c295-transport-aircraft-under-a-loan-agreement/

Odunayaw:
Stay away from water — Ancient proverb

My targeted timeframe of sailing the Cape-to-Rio Yacht Race is impervious to proverbs, ancient or otherwise!

When you leave your house intending to go sailing, in the rain.
You see Navy recruits getting drenched doing PT, the sun comes out and a long lunch at a pavement café suddenly looks irresistible.

DRC operating CH-4 UAVs

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the latest African nation to put the CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into service after ordering nine from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Three CH-4s and a ground control station were seen at N’Dolo Airport in Kinshasha in a video that circulated last month, with one spotted taxiing past a hangar where another two were parked.

Satellite imagery seems to indicate a new hangar for the UAVs had been completed by May this year, with a taxiway leading off the main runway. Construction began around March.

Three CH-4s were apparently delivered from China in May out of an order for nine, Africa Intelligence reported, with remaining deliveries by year-end.

The UAVs have been acquired to help combat rebels in the conflict-ridden DRC, and form part of numerous other arms sales aimed at bolstering the DRC’s armed forces. South Africa, through Paramount, is for example supplying six Mwari light combat aircraft and Maatla light 4×4 protected vehicles.

The CH-4 was introduced in 2011 and has been in Chinese military service since 2014. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 1 330 kg and a payload of 345 kg in addition to its electro-optical turret and synthetic aperture radar. The CH-4 has a wingspan of 18 metres and length of 8.5 metres. It is powered by a 100 hp class piston engine giving a top speed of 235 km/h and cruise speed of 180 km/h with endurance of up to 40 hours. It can carry a varied armament including cluster bombs, guided bombs and missiles.

The CH-4 has been acquired by Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, while China’s similar Wing Loong is – in Africa – in service in Morocco and Egypt. Algeria is an enthusiastic user of Chinese UAVs, and took delivery of five CH-3s for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and five armed CH-4s – five armed CH-5s and Wing Loong IIs will also be delivered. Nigeria received several CH-3A UAVs in 2014 to combat Boko Haram terrorists, and is taking delivery of two Wing Loong II, four CH-4, and two CH-3 aircraft. Nigeria’s military is also getting Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey.

The United States’ unwillingness to supply export customers with armed UAVs means that nations like China are stepping in to fill the gap. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) notes that China has delivered 282 combat UAVs to 17 countries over the last decade, making it the world’s top seller of armed UAVs while the United States has only delivered 12 combat UAVs abroad in the same time (to France and the United Kingdom).

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/drc-operating-ch-4-uavs/

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SANDF Members on Combat Lifesaver Course.

"As per the SA Army doctrine, each section must have a Combat Lifesaver Course to be the first to assist in a combat scenario should a member get injured and require emergency stabilisation or any medical intervention. Their role is to keep the injured member stable until they can be sent to the Ops Medic for further observations. They are able to apply techniques, do hemostatic dressing application and put up intravenous lines, which are just a few skills that they are taught.

The course has its foundation in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, where tactics are vital in keeping members alive on the battlefield. Its realism to actual combat conditions comes to life when students are put through various combat simulations to put to use the medical skills that they are taught.

The skills a Combat Lifesaver Course is given are based on the MARCH acronym, on how to treat Massive bleeding, open the Airway, assist the Respiratory system, assess Circulation and treat Head injuries, Hypothermia and Hemorrhage control. On completion of the course, a special certificate ceremony is held to pay homage to all those that have lost their lives in the battle. The Satellite regularly trains specialists in Units such as Pathfinders, Special Forces, SA Police Service Special Task Force and Maritime Reaction Squadron.

Bloemfontein Emergency Care Training Satellite also has a special simulation lab where they train doctors and nurses in Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support which allows the health care professionals to better treat patients with an emergency medical condition."

...fin.

"14 South African Infantry Battalion in preparation for deployment to the DRC, during the Field Training Exercise, which started on 18 June 2023 and culminated on 22 June 2023, where commanders had to plan and physically execute long-range patrols, escorts of other United Nations Humanitarian personnel and vehicles, base protection amongst other activities.

The exercise consisted of the following elements/ corps within the South African Army, all of which had a different, yet crucial role to play in the success of the exercise;

• Infantry;
• Artillery;
• Medical Task Group;
• Military Police;
• Engineers;
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle detachment;
• Logistics;
• Signalers, and
• Technical Service Support."

Botswana DF VL Mica air defence system.

Botswana DF Mistral SHORAD air defence system.

Global Command and Control Technologies sees upsurge in demand amid global tension

Global Command and Control Technologies (GC2T) has seen an uptick in business prospects following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over a year ago as countries, particularly in Africa, are looking for products that neither Ukraine nor Russia can supply at present.

This is according to Cobus Valentine, Chief Commercial Officer & Head of Product Management at GC2T, who told defenceWeb that this also ties in with a growing shift towards export business. Several years ago, most of GC2T’s revenue was from within South Africa, but now it stands at about 30% as the export market has taken over.

GC2T was established primarily to serve the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as the 2015 Defence Review deemed command and control a sovereign capability, and GC2T was subsequently spun off from Saab as a 100% Black owned South African company. However, the SANDF has little money to spend on procurement, and Armscor has no funding for research and development. In fact, GC2T funds 100% of its research and development through own funds.

Valentine warned that if the SANDF does not acquire its systems, it faces challenges in future exercises with other African countries, as many African nations are buying and using GC2T solutions. Indeed, Africa is a key focus market for the company, especially as GC2T is the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in South Africa – and indeed the African continent – that develops indigenous enabled awareness and constructive simulation solutions.

GC2T’s products are “made in Africa, for Africa,” Valentine said. The company is, for example, providing Chaka command and control systems to the African Union for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Sahel region.

Global Command and Control Technologies focusses on decision augmentation and enabled awareness with over four decades of experience in the C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence) domain. Valentine said the company offers a wide range of cost-effective hardware and software solutions as well as products and services to support customers’ dynamic demands. “GC2T has not only carved a niche for itself as an industry leader but also as a trusted and long-term partner, for both international and local military and security forces and other government agencies,” he told defenceWeb.

Valentine said GC2T has moved away from a product to a solutions-based approach as more customers are looking for integrated solutions complete with full life cycle support.

At much of GC2T’s core is its MALT backbone architecture, a strategic building block that is operating system and communication system agnostic and represents a radical departure from the traditional embedded software approach. “This allows for the rapid establishment of customer-specific functional building blocks and allows GC2T to meet the international demand from customers to achieve a large degree of self-sufficiency with complex software-based solutions,” Valentine explained.

A flagship product is the Chaka suite of secure, digital command and control solutions, which is in SANDF service amongst others. It provides near real time situational awareness and messaging across a range of communications systems and devices.

The Chaka Dismounted Soldier Command and Control System is designed to provide dismounted soldiers with enhanced situational awareness, enabling them to make better informed decisions in a rapidly changing battlefield environment. By allowing soldiers to communicate and coordinate more effectively, the system also helps to improve mission effectiveness and reduce the risk of friendly fire incidents, Valentine explained.

GC2T offers an airspace situational awareness system (Surveillance Control and Air Defence System) that includes both military and civil aircraft monitoring, integrating all available resources into a single, efficient air command and control solution.

The Distributed Ancillary Information Display (DAID) is a system that enables the distribution of ancillary information or content across multiple displays in a network. Integrating DAID with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) offers numerous benefits, including access to real-time data, enhanced capabilities, improved operational efficiency, and better engagement with customers and attendees, Valentine said. The DAID offers numerous benefits for border safeguarding, management of national key points, safe cities, ports and harbours, etc. “The DAID is an advanced, multi-sensor multi-site system designed to deliver information where it is needed, when it is needed, in a concise, user-friendly format,” Valentine added.

BattleTek is a constructive simulation/war gaming system for the training of decision-makers and support staff to prepare for a range of scenarios and contingencies. It caters for the modelling of “what if?” situations and allows the end user to prepare and respond to the unforeseen. GC2T offers the latest BattleTek 4 version.

One product that has been doing well on the export market is the CheetahNav tactical navigation system, which was developed in conjunction with local company Etion. It has been designed for navigation in GPS-denied areas. An integrated inertial measuring unit ensures jamming-free operation.

Through Saab Grintek Defence, GC2T has some 40 years of experience, including supplying solutions to the South African National Defence Force. The SA Army, Special Forces, Navy, and Air Force use GC2T systems, including Chaka, Impi, Air Picture Display System, Current Intelligence System, Ground Command and Control System and Distributed Ancillary Display System products.

GC2T is able to provide support to other government agencies for things like disaster management, ports and maritime security and management, airports management, border management, environmental protection, police command and control etc.

Diversifying into the commercial sector, GC2T is working on a cellphone tower protection system that alerts when a tower is being tampered with. Other solutions with commercial applications include access control systems; CCTV and video management systems; city-wide surveillance systems; mobile and static command and control solutions for police, emergency services and borer security; and covert surveillance vehicles.

GC2T also offers asset tracking solutions that enable the end user to track anything from a human to a combat platform thus providing the decision-maker (military or commercial) with positional information globally in real-time.

“GC2T is a world-class system supplier and integrator with value-adding to the equipment from third-party ‘best of breed’ manufacturers specialising in communications, encryption, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management equipment to provide customised turnkey solutions to our customers,” Valentine said.

“GC2T’s Enabled Awareness Systems’ excellent track record has been achieved through developing a detailed understanding of our customer’s requirements and the willingness to work closely to establish and develop an environment that promotes cost-effective programme execution to the customer’s overall satisfaction,” he concluded.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/editors-pick/global-command-and-control-technologies-sees-upsurge-in-demand-amid-global-tension/