₦airaland Forum

Elettronica to supply electronic warfare systems for Angola’s new corvettes

Italian electronic warfare (EW) specialist Elettronica has been selected to supply the EW systems for the Angolan Navy’s new BR71 Mk II corvettes that will be supplied by the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB).

The 1 billion euro contract for the ‘fleet’ of corvettes (believed but not confirmed to number three) was announced on 20 February.

Elettronica said the selection of its electronic warfare equipment by Abu Dhabi Ship Building came on the back of previous successful integration programmes between the two companies “and this new collaboration confirms the commitment to keep working together.”

Enzo Benigni, President and CEO of Elettronica, said, “This important export operation recognizes the maturity and the excellence achieved in the industrial and technological fields by ADSB. This agreement makes Elettronica particularly proud of this collaboration and confident about the even more challenging objectives that can be achieved together in the future, providing the country with the resilience and sovereignty necessary in a moment of profound geopolitical complexity.”

Elettronica has been active in the electronic warfare field for over 70 years. Its systems are designed for strategic surveillance, self-protection, intelligence gathering, electronic defence and operational support for the sea, land and air domains.

Its systems can be found on platforms like the Tornado fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, the NH-90 helicopter, Italian offshore patrol vessels and the Franco-Italian Horizon and FREMM warships.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/eletrronica-to-supply-electronic-warfare-systems-for-angolas-new-corvettes/

India opts for Al Tariq

The United Arab Emirates’ AL TARIQ and India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of Al Tariq precision guided weapons in India.

AL TARIQ, part of the Edge group, said the agreement was signed during the Aero India 2023 exhibition earlier this month. The two companies will jointly produce the Al Tariq line of all weather, day/night, long-range precision-guided munition (LR-PGM) kits in India.

Theunis Botha, CEO of AL TARIQ, said: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Bharat Dynamics, a well-established manufacturer of high technology weapon systems for the Indian Air Force. The MoU exemplifies the willingness and intent of AL TARIQ and Bharat Dynamics in cooperating and identifying opportunities to jointly produce the AL TARIQ LR-PGM in India. It will also enable us to meet the Indian Air Force’s requirements while fulfilling the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ mandate.”

Commodore A Madhavarao (retired), Director (Technical) of BDL, said: “Our partnership with AL TARIQ, a producer of outstanding, mission-proven precision-guided munition kits, marks a notable addition to our precision strike portfolio. Under the MoU, Indian variants of AL TARIQ’s LR-PGMs will be developed and produced at our state-of-the-art facilities, adding a modular, advanced long-range capability to our precision-guided munition offerings.”

Also at Aero India, AL TARIQ signed a memorandum of understanding with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to explore the feasibility of integrating AL TARIQ’s line of LR-PGMs onto HAL platforms.

At the signing, Botha said: “Through our partnership with HAL, a leading producer of latest technology military aircraft, we can offer customers a LR-PGM that provides long stand-off ranges and increased safety. Additionally, we look forward to offering a unique, modular LR-PGM solution that will expand and enhance the aerial strike capability of the end-user.”

S Krishna Kumar, Executive Director (Aircraft Research & Design Centre) of HAL, said: “High precision, long range, focused munition integration will improve the lethality of our fighter aircraft. ARDC along with other stakeholders will explore the possibilities of integration of AL TARIQ’s LR-PGM solution to fixed-wing aircraft of Indian origin.”

Al Tariq is a modular family of precision guided munitions designed for the Mk 81, Mk 82, and Mk 83 (250 lb, 500 lb, 1 000 lb) aerial bombs, offering long stand-off ranges exceeding 120 km and multiple seeker options. The system offers a wireless integration option or a digital solution for aircraft requiring either MIL-STD-1760 or DIGIBUS interfacing. The standard Al Tariq kit gives a range of up to 40 km while the Al Tariq-LR version has fold-out wings for a range of 120 km.

The existing Al Tariq range comprises guidance kits for the Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, but this is also being expanded to include the Mk 83/HSLD 450 (1 000 lb/454 kg) bomb. The winged Mk 83 version is being qualified through flight trials, with production expected from the second quarter of 2023, while the existing Mk 81 and Mk 82 kits are currently in production.

At the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2022 exhibition last September, AL TARIQ unveiled the new X-series guidance kit for Mk 81 or Mk 82 bombs – the kit is lighter than previous versions, and is designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smaller counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. The X-series kit uses the body from the Mk 81/82 series and is fitted with flip-up fins. It can be dropped from up to 40 000 feet and travel at Mach .9 with a maximum range of 40 km.

The Al Tariq weapon started life as the Denel Dynamics Umbani (Lightning) guided bomb system, which has a terminal accuracy of 3 metres circular error probable (half of the weapons land within that distance of the aim point) using laser target-designation or an imaging infra-red seeker.

The Umbani was first test dropped off a South African Air Force Hawk in 2011 and then became the first product (the Al Tariq) of a joint venture between Denel Dynamics (49%) and Tawazun (51%). Tawazun Dynamics supplied the weapon to the UAE Air Force, where it equips its Mirage 2000s and Hawks. It is believed to have been used in combat in Yemen. More recently, Egypt acquired the Al Tariq for its Mirage 2000 and F-16 Fighting Falcon combat jets.

Tawazun became Barij Dynamics in 2018 and in November 2019, Barij became AL TARIQ when it was consolidated along with 25 other UAE defence entities under the Edge group.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/india-opts-for-al-tariq/

GreenandGold:
Look who is powering the whole cute Cape motor race, the inland's industrial might

How else can we boast of our pristine air?

GreenandGold, it's lekker by die sea! This weekend we get to show the world a lovelier street track than Monaco! And I'll be watching the E-Prix from a roof-top pool deck on a friend's apartment building in Green Point!
You people inland must just concede!

QuietMynd:
Those accropode re unique.

We call them DOLOS. From wikipedia:

Credit for invention
The design of the dolos is usually credited to the South African Eric Mowbray Merrifield, one-time East London Harbour Engineer (from 1961–1976).[5]: 10  In the late 1990s the claim of Aubrey Kruger[7] gained more prominence. Kruger's claim is that he and Merrifield had considered the shape of concrete blocks to be used to protect East London's extensive breakwaters for the City's non-natural harbour, following a major storm in 1963. Merrifield wished to design a block that did not break up or shift when struck by the sea; that was cheap; and that did not require precise placement. He said in later years that he wanted a block designed in such a way that it could be "sprinkled like children's jacks". Kruger stated that he went home for lunch, cut three sections from a broomstick, and fastened them with nails into an H-shape with one leg turned through 90 degrees to create the distinctive dolos shape. Merrifield was intrigued by the object and had Kruger draw a plan. Kruger never formally received credit for the invention. Merrifield won the Shell Design Award and the Associated Science and Technology Societies of South Africa's Gold Medal.[5]: 11  The death of Merrifield (in 1982) has put this controversy beyond proof either way.[citation needed] Aubrey Kruger died in East London on 19 July 2016.

Design protection
The design of the dolos is not protected by any form of patent. Merrifield did not take the necessary steps to protect the concept.[5]: 11 

The reason for this is uncertain. Two reasons for this have been put forward: one by Merrifield; the other by Kruger. Merrifield stated that he did not protect them as he wished them to benefit humanity.[5]: 11  Kruger alleges that Merrifield received incorrect legal advice: to wit, that as the blocks had been designed during office hours while he was employed by the State (South African Railways and Harbours Administration), he was unable by law to protect their design.[citation needed]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolos

GreenandGold:
It looks the SAn defence industry is back

Well, apart from 4 out of 6 Denel companies, the other 262 companies in the SA defence industry never went anywhere!

Paramount’s N-Raven Precision Strike Loitering Munition goes into production - IDEX 2023

21 Feb 2023
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 21 February 2023 – Paramount Aerospace Systems (PAS), subsidiary to Paramount, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) headquartered global aerospace and technology company, announced that its groundbreaking N-Raven loitering munition will begin production in April this year with first deliveries in October, to meet the urgent requirements of armed forces around the world.

N-Raven has been digitally designed with quick transfer of technology in mind, to enable governments to manufacture these loitering munitions in their countries, in less than one year. The announcement was made at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX 2023) in Abu Dhabi.

Paramount Aerospace Systems has developed the N-Raven as a robust yet cost-effective loitering munition to meet the needs of the new battlefield in both asymmetrical and symmetrical warfare, by utilising proven building blocks, components and experience gained from the company’s previously-fielded and operational remote-controlled systems.

Paramount’s N-Raven consists of three different models; GPS guided, fixed Optical Seeker Head target identification, recognition and tracking; and a Gimbal version of the Optical Seeker Head. All these technologies including the hardware, software and AI have been developed by Paramount.

The swarming version of the N Raven is in advanced stages of development and is scheduled to be industrialized in the second half of 2024.

With a wingspan of 3.6 meters, a maximum cruise speed of up to 180 km/hr and a loitering endurance time of roughly 2 hours (electric) and 4.5 hours (petrol) and a range of up to 100 km, the 55 kg N-Raven delivers capabilities to find, fix and destroy, neutralize and suppress targets. The 13.5 kg payload is key to this ability.

Mobile and deployable in a short period of time, operational units can utilise and launch the N-Raven from both land-based and naval platforms. Commanders will benefit from the advantage of the N-Raven’s precision strike capabilities against targets, both static and moving, located deep within enemy territory,

“Designed to strengthen armed forces’ aerial reconnaissance, engagement and precision strike capabilities, while removing humans from harm’s way, the N Raven addresses the increasing requirements of governments for defence industrial autonomy and maintaining security of supply”, contends Paramount Global CEO, Steve Griessel.

“The N Raven is a lightweight solution yet with the capacity to immobilise convoys and supply lines and in doing so, deplete enemy capabilities,” he continued.

“Recent conflicts around the world have confirmed that loitering munitions will play a key role on the new battlefield . This ingenious, affordable technology increases mission survivability and success, enhances real time actionable intelligence, minimises exposure of friendly forces, and in doing so, provide armed forces around the world with an unassailable advantage” says Griessel.

“Nearly three decades ago, Paramount was founded on the belief that true innovation in our space means bringing technologically advanced, affordable and highly customisable solutions to the needs of our partners. The N-Raven is designed and produced with portable production in mind, allowing our partners the ability to bolster their own defence industrial capabilities and do this at warp speed.”

https://www.paramountgroup.com/media/news/paramount-s-n-raven-precision-strike-loitering-munition-goes-into-production-idex-2023/

Angolan Navy to receive corvettes from Abu Dhabi Ship Building under billion euro deal

Angola has signed a 1 billion euro deal with the United Arab Emirate’s Edge group that will see Edge subsidiary Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) deliver a fleet of corvettes to the Angolan Navy.

The “landmark” contract, announced on 20 February to coincide with the IDEX defence show (20-24 February), will see the construction of “a fleet” of 71 metre BR71 Mk II corvettes.

Khalid Al Breiki, President – Platforms & Systems, Edge said: “Signing a EUR1 billion defence export deal represents a momentous achievement for Edge as well as ADSB. This demonstrates our strategic approach and steadfast commitment to increasing national exports in line with the UAE Leadership’s directive.”

David Massey, CEO of ADSB, said: “The BR71 Mk II corvette is a highly advanced vessel capable of performing multiple missions to secure Angola’s 1 600 km coastline. We look forward to fulfilling the Angolan Navy’s operational requirements and strengthening their naval capabilities while expanding ADSB’s avenues of growth.”

The Combattante BR71 Mk II an advanced variant of the Baynunah class (BR 71 design) corvette developed by French shipyard CMN, a part of Privinvest Shipbuilding Group. The vessel is designed for littoral warfare defence operations against air and surface threats, patrolling tasks, law enforcement and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

It has a crew of 50 and maximum speed of 30 knots, with range of 2 500 nautical miles at 12 knots. Four MTU engines drive two steering and two booster water-jets. It can accommodate a 5 ton class helicopter on a rear deck and two six metre RHIBs. Primary weapon is a 76 or 57 mm cannon, backed by two 20 or 30 mm cannons. It can also launch Exocet anti-ship missiles and well as surface-to-air missiles.

Edge described the BR71 Mk II corvette as a highly sophisticated vessel fitted with advanced mission systems including a 3D radar, electronic warfare suite, secure communications, a main gun, and surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems.

Operating from a 330 000 square metre shipyard in Abu Dhabi, ADSB builds corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and fast patrol boats for military customers, and commercial vessels for the oil services industry. The company also offers a full range of maintenance, repair and refit, upgrade and conversion, as well as design and engineering consultancy services. ADSB has built half a dozen Baynunah class corvettes for the UAE Navy, with the lead ship constructed in France by CMN.

It is not clear if the BR71 Mk II contract follows on from a 495 million 2016 contact between Angola and Privinvest that was to see the establishment of a shipyard in Angola and the supply of several naval vessels. It is believed the 2016 deal was scaled back significantly following pressure from the IMF – Angola did, however, take delivery of three HSI 32 high-speed patrol craft from CMN. Two patrol vessels were also apparently due to be delivered.

Privinvest has facilities and shipyards in a number of countries including France (Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie – CMN), Germany (German Naval Yards Kiel) and the Middle East.

jl115:
So after day2 UAE swat challenge the Taakies are in 3rd(and 27th B team).....Kenyas RRT police unit are also impressing and are currently 4th

Day2 is the obstacle course Assault Event, and the Kenyans must have absolutely nailed it for that position gain!

...more.

What a lovely sight!

jl115:
UAE swat challenge 2023 day 1

Via Rudolph Pretorius FB

Day 1 was hostage rescue. Our 2nd team also had a good time, but incurred a 30 second penalty.
The rest of the results here:
https://swat.dubaipolice.gov.ae/swat/home/finalStandings?day=final&year=2023

Confirmed vessels participating in Exercise Mosi 2:

China:
1) the destroyer Huainan;
2) the guided-missile frigate Rizhao; and
3) the supply ship Kekexilihu.

Russia:
1) the frigate Admiral Gorshkov; and
2) the supply ship Kama

South Africa
1) the frigate SAS Mendi;
2) the IPV SAS King Sekhukhune II;
3) the hydrographic vessel SAS Protea; and
4) the inshore patrol vessel SAS Tekwane.

Lionel4power, you might want to correct the info on your blog. According to the SANDF, there is to be no Zircon launch. If the Russians do one, it won't be part of the exercise and will not happen in SA waters.

GreenandGold:
I guess it all depends on where you are in the world... down here, they like coming to people, some of them even wear sui.... or wait, that's Putin

Comrade, stop insulting baboons with spurious comparisons!

Exnavyboy62:
Weapons brother... they have weapons that the Valour class frigates don't have
16x anti ship missiles not 8
1x OTO Melara rapid fire gun not a compact gun
32x air to air missiles(umkhonto missiles for that matter) not 13 out of 16
2x double torpedo tubes, not built to be fitted for but not with

The Algerian Mekos are better armed than ours. No debate about that.
You're correct about the 76 vs 127mm gun, the 8 Exocets vs 16 SAAB anti-ship missile launchers, the MU90 torpedoes.
You're wrong however, about the Umkhonto VLS. The SAN started with 12 of the Block1, and went up to 16 when Denel completed the Block2. It will go up to 32 for all the frigates when Denel Dynamics completes the extended range Umkhonto ER-IR. Currently only SAS Amatola has 32 cells for the Block2 IR. See pic below.

The other thing the Algerians have which we don't:
- 2 AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters per frigate versus 1 per frigate in the SAN;
- their Lynx helicopters carry MU90 torpedoes and 8 Denel Mokopa surface-to-air missiles for Anti-surface warfare operations, whilst ours are fitted for but not with.

More important, the threat assessment in Algeria informed their decisions, as did ours for the SAN's decisions. As a taxpayer, I applaud the SAN decision to outfit the frigates accordingly, with an eye on future upgrades should the conditions demand it. I would be mightily pissed off if they had disregarded assessments and simply bought more "toys" just for penile measurement and comparison.

And, because sanctions are in vogue at the moment, a plus for the SAN is that the combat management system, the computer-based Naval Logistic Management System, and 3 of the 4 radar systems are locally-produced products.
In addition, the SAN vessels now have locally-produced Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) for minehunting purposes, obviating the need for specialist vessels.

To repeat the obvious, each country has assessed what each needs, and outfitted accordingly. Dick-measurement is for internet warriors.
My Uber is here: must run. My favourite jazz club is hosting one of the great Cuban pianists of the young generation. My woman and I have a table reserved.

...last.

School kids being introduced to the Air Force at AFD2023...

Speaking of SAS Amatola, the smallest target ever engaged by an Exocet missile anywhere, the decommissioned SAS Shaka was sunk by a MBDA Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missile fired by Amatola.

GreenandGold:
Please elaborate, I don't understand what the Algerian MEKO-200 has the Valour Class Frigs don't have?

The most obvious one is torpedoes. There's a list of things that ours are fitted for, but not equipped.

The Britishers hunted India's cheetahs to extinction. We have too many; so to aid in their re-introduction, we'll be sending 12 every year for ten years.
And they sent an IAF C17 to pick them up!

GreenandGold:
Finally, let's hope the other 3 frigates get the same treatment..

SAS did 1 frigate and 1 submarine. That was half a billion ZAR, when the Mbeki Administration budget surplus was still available for Zuma to squander. Goodness knows how much the midlife refits will cost for the other 3 frigates and 2 subs.

GreenandGold:
That's a sophisticated way of saying "no funding for your project bro"

Nah! Restraint of trade and such nonsense. A few clients walked with us and our industry is so incestuous, we had to honour that garbage even though it's not legally enforceable under SA law.

GreenandGold:
Now we know who to call to make our vehicle possible once it passes through the "look at me" Nairaland stage ...

We don't play in the SA space. When the 7 of us partners walked out of a multi-national shop to set up on our own, it caused quite a media stink and restraint of trade agreements limited our playground. The emerging markets of Africa, Middle East, S.America (excl Brasil, Argentina, Chile & Mexico) and south east Asia (excl Singapore, Malaysia -too developed - and other unmentionable too primitive ) were future markets, we thought. HQ didn't agree, so we walked, on condition that for 15 years we wouldn't compete in specific markets.

So as much as I'd like to get into the defence space, have to extend that barge-pole cos if there's any SA sniff, can't but recoil and mask up.

So in the security sector in general, I'll stick with the Angolans, Gabonese, Ghanaians, Ivorians, Kenyans etc, who utilise sophisticated corporate finance mechanisms for such things.

SAS being all demure about their achievements!

"SAS Amatola undergoing a midlife refit at Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban. SAS received the contract for the complete refit of the vessel (excluding armament) – one of the largest projects tackled by a South African company for the South African Navy (SAN).

Amatola spent 3 months in dry dock, where part of the refit programme involved the removal of the Amatola’s two MTU 1163 TB93 diesel engines, each delivering 5920 kW and driving propellers, and a single General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine delivering 20 000 kW and driving a waterjet propulsion system to give a speed of 30 knots.

By getting a South African company to carry out work on the SAS Amatola, the Navy is paying a half to a tenth of the price that foreign suppliers would charge, and local refurbishment work results in quicker turnaround times.

SAS Amatola is the first of the Navy’s four Valour class frigates. She was launched in June 2002 and commissioned into service in February 2006. She is 121 metres long and displaces 3 700 tons."

The largest and leading commercial and naval shipbuilding and ship repair company on the African continent, Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) undertook the midlife refit of the Danah Explorer luxury yacht. The four month refit included extending the length of the yacht from 51.8 metres to 67 metres. Other elements of the refit included adding another deck, installing an elevator and relocating the helipad. SAS, as Africa's leading commercial and naval shipbuilding and ship repair company, provides comprehensive solutions to the marine industry, worldwide.

*Shameless self-promotion: My company provides advisory and corporate finance services to initiatives in Accra involving SAS and other entities, aimed at west African sector dominance.

GreenandGold:
That 97/98 prototype is yesterday's news.... my prototype is the in thing, how dare you give away my internet glory

I thought it was a given that GLORIOUS ERA Technologies would update and improve on that Mechem MC-90 prototype.

GreenandGold:
That 97/98 prototype is yesterday's news.... my prototype is the in thing, how dare you give away my internet glory

Jokes aside, imagine having the ability to lift two 30mm armed vehicles in a C130 and drop them anywhere in Africa... I mean;

1. You introduce a new vehicle that works within our airforce capability, no need to hire East Europeans to airlift our vehicles
2. You give deployed troops unmatched firepower

Why is no one in the SANDF thinking about this, you don't need hundreds of them, just 2 dozen in service would do.

After Bangui, I seem to recall Frumentius complaining about the lack of a practical replacement for the Eland; something easily air-deployable by a C-130, with enough dakka dakka for the Parabats. Reading somebody like Darren Olivier, I get the sense SANDF planners are a really frustrated lot, advocating for what needs to be done and being stymied by the "no budget" refrain.
Think about it, Paras as first-in only have MGs, mortars and grenade launchers for fire support. In an ideal world, a troop (2 vehicles) of our (look at me sharing in your internet glory! ) vehicle in 30mm, and maybe an additional 2nd troop in 90mm, would deploy along with the Paras.
The long convoy of Toyota technicals on the Mpoko River bridge would have been not just handed its arse as the SF did in 8 Hornets, but completely stopped in its tracks. That's just 4 vehicles in 2 C-130 flights.

BTW, the Il-76s we usually charter aren't owned by East European companies. I can't remember now if the ones during Bangui were Belgian or Dutch, but they basically said their insurance does not allow them to fly into a hot zone. So SANDF Logistics had to run around finding charters, whilst not falling foul of our procurement rules. Hence the deployment to Entebbe in Uganda and Gemena in DRC.
If SANDF Logs had East European companies on the books, they would have had no problem flying into Bangui Airport on the Friday night, when the re-enforcement effort commenced after the thwarted ambush on the SF patrol.

GreenandGold:
....to go against our own

And yet again, we've been sitting on the vehicle prototype since 1997/8 and someone else will eat our lunch!

GreenandGold:
@Luker4Long

The French have the perfect vehicle we want (as usual)

As do the Belgians over at John Cockerill:

"The chassis of the Cockerill i-X is based on the design of an undisclosed US rally car manufacturer that was developed especially for the Dakar race. The hydropneumatic suspension of the chassis has been modified by John Cockerill to increase high-speed mobility in all-terrain conditions. It can also be fitted with a controlled height mechanism. Having excellent mobility on any type of ground and achieving unrivaled speeds in defense theatres of operation, the Cockerill i-X is the first land vehicle to embody the DNA of the interceptor. The vehicle can be powered by a thermal engine developing 750 hp or an 800 hp hybrid thermal-electric engine. It can reach a maximum road speed of 200 km/h and 160 km/h in desert conditions with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. With the thermal engine, the i-X can reach a 100 km/h speed in less than 6 seconds and has a braking distance of 40 m at 100 km/h. In fully electric mode the cruising range is limited to up 30 km but provides a tactical advantage with thermal and acoustic signature reduction.

"The Cockerill i-X features unique onboard fully digitized Man-Machine Interface sighting and observation systems including a cockpit screen allowing the driver to pull up all necessary information, while the commander has a high-resolution screen providing the images captured by the French company Safran Electronics & Defense and the sight of the turret. The Man-Machine Interface of the Cockerill i-X Interceptor is based on the Cockerill ® Smart Helmet, which is worn by the operator, and features an intelligent multimodal engine allowing the management of information of the weapon system and interactions that will be visual, auditory, and vocal. All this while ensuring a measured control of the cognitive load of the operator during his mission, by using an interface that will be as intuitive as possible. The interface is no longer seen as a «passive» device but becomes intelligent, efficient, immersive and uses the natural interaction capabilities of the operator, in a more ambitious context of use than usual (speed of action, multi-target, rapid movement of the vehicle). The weapon system of the vehicle also integrates high-performance sensors to collect combat data and to provide 360° situational awareness. The data processing is done via intelligent embedded algorithms based on Artificial Intelligence to perform threat Detection-Identification-Location and Assessment, enhanced decision aid to the operator. The onboard communication systems offer teaming and adaptive cooperation between equivalent systems in all squad vehicles by sharing data in order to take the best decisions and to share priorities. Another interesting feature of the Cockerill i-X is the installation of one built-in jack on each side of the lower part of the chassis which can be deployed on the ground for self-recovery from soft sand."

Armed Forces Day 2023 to be the biggest yet – SANDF

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is aiming to make this year’s Armed Forces Day commemorations, in Richard’s Bay, the largest and most successful to date. Over 8 000 troops will be involved in what is also being used as a large-scale force deployment exercise.

This is according to Brigadier General Andries Mahapa, Director Defence Corporate Communication, when briefing the media aboard the frigate SAS Mendi in Richard’s Bay on Tuesday.

The South African Navy is organising this year’s event, which is centred around Richard’s Bay and the uMhlathuze municipality (the other cities considered for Armed Forces Day 2023 were East London and Saldanha).

The Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, said Armed Forces Day (AFD) started out a decade ago with the purpose of bringing the SANDF to the people, and has grown since the first edition was held in Atteridgeville when a single company’s worth of soldiers took part. Now, a brigade size force is involved this year, with over 8 000 personnel deployed along with four Navy ships, dozens of aircraft, and hundreds of vehicles.

The SANDF, with Armed Forces Day, purports to, among other things honour serving members and pay tribute to soldiers who paid the ultimate price and lost their lives in the line of duty, such as Corporal Tebogo Edwin Radebe, killed in Mozambique while serving with SAMIM, and more recently, Flight Sergeant Vusi Mabena, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

From 16 to 19 February, four navy ships (the frigate SAS Mendi, hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea, inshore patrol vessel SAS King Sekhukhune I and inshore patrol craft SAS Tekwane) will be open to the public, from 9-15:00.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/armed-forces-day-2023-to-be-the-biggest-yet-sandf/

*Pics from a previous AFD

Badger set for public debut at Armed Forces Day

An upbeat Mike Kgobe, interim Denel chief executive, has let personnel at the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate know seven Badgers – “our very own infantry combat vehicle (ICV)” – will be in the landward force line-up for Armed Forces Day (AFD) in Richards Bay.

He writes of his “great joy” which comes with the long-delayed Ratel replacement making its public debut at a day when “the South African population honours the men and women of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) by affirming their support and gratitude to them”.

An Armscor presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) last year revealed that Hoefyster is more or less presently paused with parts of the development phase at various stages of completion. They are 72% of hull and turret items common to all variants; 84% of the lead – Section – variant; 83% of the Fire Support variant; 73% of the Command variant; 44% of the Mortar variant and 53% of the Missile variant.

Completed as per phase two (industrialisation and production) are locally developed 30 mm CamGuns and ammunition; 60 mm long range mortar bombs; 15 Patria vehicle platforms; 64 training simulators and four pre-production models of the Section variant.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/badger-set-for-public-debut-at-armed-forces-day/?referrer=newsletter