₦airaland Forum

Flanker:
The balloon killer

jl115:
There are also 25 Valkiri MLRS

I think those have been taken out of service.
I find it interesting that people talk of UAVs as spotters and target designators for artillery as some new thing.
We upgraded our arty FCS and took the Vulture into service in 2006, for that express purpose!

GreenandGold:
The SANDF's G6 Howitzer

I think our artillery formation is quite balanced, both in terms of utility and numbers:

Pic1: G6 Rhino x 43;
Pic2: Bateleur MLRS x 25;
Pic3: G5 towed x 69;
Pic4: T5 x 6

jl115:
to be fair kabe1 is either Henry120 or Henry120 superfan

More likely the latter; the former is an insult to Henry.

The African teams at the Dubai SWAT Challenge 2023:

1. Kenya:
a) Ministry of Interior Executive Protection Unit
b) RRT Kenya Police
c) Special Operations Group NPS Kenya

2. Libya:
a) Libya Police SWAT

3. Morocco:
a) Direction General De La Surete Nationale (DGSN)

4. Nigeria:
a) Defence Headquarters Special Operations Forces

5. Rwanda:
a) RNP SWAT Team 1
b) RNP SWAT Team 2

6. South Africa:
a) SAPS Special Task Force A
b) SAPS Special Task Force B

Talk about a small world! This SA team ran into a Chinese team they'd previously met in Indonesia!

...last.

...4...

...3...

...2...

"Being deployed in Turkey during an operation of this magnitude is never easy, but our members in country and their support back in South Africa are there to make a difference to the country and her people. The teams are working on search and rescue operations in below zero degree Celsius weather conditions alongside other search and rescue teams from across the world. One can only imagine the heartsore and devastation, but it is heart-warming seeing the world unite to help when the help is needed most. SARZA was deployed to assist with communications and logistics support in the area hardest hit by the earthquake, while providing force multiplier back up where needed.

A South African Police Services K9 Search & Rescue team joined the South African team today to assist in the Search And Rescue missions that lie ahead. This multi-agency search team is relying on training and experience to be able to make a difference outside of the borders of South Africa. This indicates our readiness for any situation that we might face in South Africa and abroad. We are proud of the dedicated team of volunteers making a difference during this time."

A second search and rescue team from South Africa has arrived in Instabul.

Ghana commissions nearly 200 military vehicles

Ghana’s military has commissioned into service 175 military vehicles, for internal security as well as peacekeeping use.

Ghana’s president and commander-in-chief Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented the vehicles to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in the capital Accra on 1 February.

The vehicles include 70 Kamaz trucks, 20 BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), 20 Navistar Defence Husky tactical support vehicles (TSVs), and 65 Toyota utility vehicles. In May 2022 it was reported that the United Kingdom would send 70 Husky vehicles to Ghana.

Akufo-Addo recalled that he attended similar handovers in December 2019 and March 2021, and promised that more vehicles were coming for the Ghana Armed Forces. He said the new equipment will help the country contain security threats, including terrorism, along Ghana’s northern borders, ensure internal security (including against illegal gold miners), and support Ghana’s external peacekeeping operations.

Indeed, many of the vehicles handed over on 1 February were pained in United Nations colours and officials said some of these would be used by UN forces in Sudan with the UNISFA mission. Ghanaian men and women have served as United Nations peacekeepers since the early 1970s, participating in operations that stretched from the Sinai to the African continent. The West African Nations is now among the top 10 contributors to UN peacekeeping, with 2 800 personnel serving on more than half a dozen missions.

“As President of the Republic, I am fully aware that our economic development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security,” Akufo-Addo said. He added that in light of the deteriorating security situation to the north, 15 forward operating bases have been built or upgraded and units created or expanded, such as 10 & 11 Mechanized Battalions, 154, 155 Armoured Regiments and supporting logistics units.

Chief of the Defence Staff Vice Admiral Seth Amoama said some of the vehicles would be deployed to ensure security along Ghana’s northern border, and for Operation Gongong in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

In addition to the vehicles, communications equipment was also handed over and this will be used on border security taskings as well as United Nations peacekeeping operations. These included numerous Barrett radios.

The Ghana Peace Journal reported that OMNI Bank and CAL Bank assisted with financing for the vehicles. UK-based Excel Design and Integration company will supply logistics support.

The previous vehicle handovers to the Ghana Armed Forces included 40 Otokar Cobra II APCs in March 2021, and in December 2019, 33 Otokar Cobra I and IIs, 41 Toyotas, and various utility vehicles. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Ghana received a first batch of 30 Cobra I and II vehicles in 2018-2019. In 2021 11 Guarani APCs were supplied via an Israeli company, according to SIPRI data.

The new deliveries join Ghana’s dozens of Ratel 20/90, Piranha, WZ-525/Type-05P, Typhoon, Maverick and Tactica armoured personnel carriers.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/ghana-commissions-nearly-200-military-vehicles/

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria and which left a swath of destruction and a humanitarian disaster of immense proportions in its wake is heartbreaking. However, we are delighted to hear that, like many other countries, South African society has already responded by sending a multi-disciplinary rescue team and supplies to help local- and international rescue and medical relief efforts.

Our hearts go out to the people of Turkey and Syria in dealing with a disaster.

We wish the South African team of professionals and volunteers a safe and successful rescue mission. The team is comprised of members of Gift of the Givers Foundation, Emergency Services, volunteers of University Emergency Medicine Departments, private emergency service providers and our sister volunteer rescue organisation SARZA. The team, from multiple provinces, assembled at OR Thambo airport and left last night for Turkey. We wish them a safe and successful mission.

The team need to be self-sufficient as they cannot place demands on the already stretched local resources, so they have spent most of yesterday preparing urban rescue and communication equipment, supplies and equipment for basic accommodation to take with them. This will allow the team to make a small but meaningful contribution to the local and international rescue efforts.

Six SARZA members from three different SARZA Units (Gauteng, Cape Town and Free State) join the South African team with a focus on supporting the South African team with logistical and communication support. Having worked with these members on many local rescue missions, we are proud of you as representatives of the local volunteer search and rescue community. We know you'll use your locally-honed skills, and the experiences of past international disaster responses you participated in will help to make a difference where it is desperately needed. Past disasters SARZA responded to include the Japan Tsunami, Haiti earthquake and closer to home to flooding disasters in neighbouring countries and Malawi.

Photos: SARZA Gauteng

@SARZA.Search.Rescue #GiftoftheGivers #Syria #DisasterResponse #Earthquake #Turkey #TurkeyEarthquake #SearchandRescue #USAR

Cyclone season in southern Africa has arrived. Cyclone Cheneso in Madagascar.
And yet again, the Mozambican government will not have made any preparations. They are our neighbour and we have to help, but as a South African taxpayer I'm starting to get annoyed that they never prepare for something they know happens annually!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWmAGm_wwTo

The body of Sgt Vusi Mabena is loaded aboard an Ukrainian An-26 in Goma, DRC for repatriation back to South Africa.
Sgt Mabena was the Flight Engineer aboard the SAAF Oryx helicopter operating a UN MONUSCO mission on 5 Feb when near Goma, it was hit by a single bullet.
Maj O Matlapeng, the aircraft Commander, was hit in the shoulder and is recovering after being operated on, leaving the co-pilot Capt R Allan to land safely at Goma Airport.
RIP Sir, you died so others may live.

Heavies on the road to Armed Forces Day.

jl115:
yeah they got wrecked according to reports.

I wouldn't read too much into that; home ground advantage and all that.

jl115:
No no, wasn't sarcastic, rescue teams are remunerated by said country or other humanitarian organisations, you probably remember South African rescue(Fire fighters) teams a couple of years ago in Canada and the controversies surrounding the amount that was paid to the South African Government and the absolute peanuts they paid the rescue teams.

Ah! I suspected you were confusing it with the fire fighters. They didn't go there as part of Rescue SA, but a separate agreement between the provincial govt of Alberta and whatever province in SA. And yes, Alberta paid a per diem, which was paid to all firefighters from outside Alberta. The Mpumalanga(?) liaison officer insisted on handling the payments for our guys, and short-changed them. It was whilst speaking to California fire fighters that our guys discovered they were receiving less of a daily allowance.
So no, this is a unique situation and no way applicable to disaster zones and protocols.
A friend at Dept of Foreign Affairs used to be in charge of smoothing the way for Rescue SA, and used to go through incredible highs and soul-destroying lows!

jl115:
You think countries like SA send rescue teams to Turkey for free?? They get paid bru

No they do not.
Each country pays for its rescue team. In fact, before flying to the disaster area, that country's authorities must satisfy themselves that your team will not be a burden and divert resources away.

Postscript: Did your sarcasm just fly over my head?

GreenandGold:
So if you guys post us SONA rehearsal pics now, what are you going to post us on the actual day?

We Capetonians only care about the rehearsals; no detestable politicians!
The day itself is an excuse - not that one is ever needed - for those still having to commute to offices to leave early to avoid gridlock!

GreenandGold:
I like how the DA trolled the ANC here by throwing their own State of the Nation Address prior

Honestly, I was going to throw a parallel one on Thursday and be a no-show in "Parliament"

Yes well, they need to pull up their socks and win next year's elections.
And then their SONAs will also have these:

DaddyGoo:
SWAT challenge.....the name of the game is the biggest clue my brother.

Does DHQ or HQNPF run SWAT type operations in Nigeria?

There you have your answer.

OK

DaddyGoo:
Bangladesh and my dear Nigeria, looking at the rankings I can tell it's not an army competition.

Abeg, make we try dey send the right representatives for international program like this. As they are KEY to benchmarking performance against global standards.

SA, Kenya and Brazil have gained more out of this than we have.

Sending DHQ SOF against police SF units?

Haba Nigeria, we can be better.

The competition is open to special units from both police and the military.
Have a look at the events and help me understand how they don't fit in with military SOF:

Faithful007:
Has Nigeria conducted any major airlift program since Gambia? I doubt. Humanitarian, probably never.

In August 2019, a NAF C-130 transported humanitarian aid to flood victims in Mozambique.

Faithful007:
I think the Nigeria vs South Africa debate has finally been settled.

No mate, please don't!

It's the annual hurricane/cyclone season soon in southern Africa, so Rescue SA will inevitably deploy in either Mozambique, Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe, or all of them.

Rescue SA in Philippines in 2013:

Typhoon Haiyan, known as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed. As of January 2014, bodies were still being found.

Rescue SA in Japan in 2011:

The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku was a magnitude 9.0 (Mw) undersea mega thrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on Friday 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately 70 kilometers east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku and the hypocenter at an underwater depth of approximately 30 km.

Rescue SA in Haiti in 2010:

Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday January 12, 2010 at a depth of 8.1 miles. The epicenter was located 15 miles WSW of Port-Au-Prince. There were a number of strong aftershocks ranging from 4.2 to 5.9 magnitude in strength.