₦airaland Forum

CS/SM5 120mm guided mortar equipped on an NIMR II armored off-road vehicle.

Lurker4Long:
No idea, but it won't be winning any prizes for looks!

I tell you, it gets funnier the closer you get.... you'll bet someone is trying to out-do the Igirigi

SANDF equipment being shipped home to Durban from Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

Lurker4Long:
SANDF equipment being shipped home to Durban from Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

Some of the equipment moving from port of Durban back to home base.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw528hRt7v0

Lurker4Long:
SANDF equipment being shipped home to Durban from Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

Can we call this mission accomplish ?

NabiAsli:
Can we call this mission accomplish ?

Nope. Failed

NabiAsli:
Can we call this mission accomplish ?

No, we can't. SADC allowed the mission to lapse for 2 reasons:
1) it was woefully under-funded;
2) the Mozambicans didn't fulfill the signed agreement. They did nothing to address the socio-economic grievances that led to the insurgency, preferring to focus only on a military solution. Even with that, they were not doing basic things like beefing up presence in areas that SAMIM had cleared of ISIS.
It's a sovereign country; they best know what they want.

Lurker4Long:
No, we can't. SADC allowed the mission to lapse for 2 reasons:
1) it was woefully under-funded;
2) the Mozambicans didn't fulfill the signed agreement. They did nothing to address the socio-economic grievances that led to the insurgency, preferring to focus only on a military solution. Even with that, they were not doing basic things like beefing up presence in areas that SAMIM had cleared of ISIS.
It's a sovereign country; they best know what they want.

Mozambique and the DRC are the same WhatsApp group. I personally think the DRC has the manpower and the budget to have an effective military to permanently deal with the M23 and other militia groups. It's becoming harder to justify SADC deployment in these regions, the host countries don't have a political will to help themselves.

CSIR and Sysdel collaborate on new Acepod electronic warfare pod for the SAAF

An advanced electronic warfare (EW) pod developed domestically by Sysdel, Armscor, the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was unveiled at September’s Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition.

The Acepod, designed by Sysdel of Centurion and supported by Armscor and the SAAF, marks a significant advance in the country’s airborne defence capabilities. The CSIR played a crucial role in integrating and testing the pod on the SAAF’s Hawk Mk 120 aircraft.

The Acepod, short for Airborne Countermeasure and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) Pod, is a technology demonstrator funded by the SAAF and acquisition agency Armscor. Its primary function is to develop and demonstrate advanced electronic warfare technology, while also providing crucial training to EW and radar personnel. This is critical for the SAAF, enabling the development of strategies and expertise in operating with jamming equipment.

Sysdel specialises in the development, manufacture and support of Electronic Warfare systems in the radar domain. Although Sysdel led the design of the original Acepod Mk 1, the CSIR was brought in to support integration, specifically focusing on adapting the pod to the fast jet environment. Sysdel’s experience in electronic warfare systems was complemented by the CSIR’s expertise in aircraft integration, as the latter tackled challenges like aerodynamics, physical constraints and flight requirements. The CSIR’s primary task was to address the physical challenges posed by the pod’s size and weight while not being involved in the pod’s internal electronics.

One of the major challenges faced during development was the size of the pod. Weighing 326 kilograms and stretching over three and a half meters in length, the pod is the heaviest payload ever integrated onto a South African Hawk. This posed unique challenges, particularly given the limited ground clearance of the Hawk’s relatively low undercarriage. To address this, the CSIR developed a custom trolley to safely load and mount the pod under the aircraft’s centre pylon.

Despite these challenges, the integration process was completed at a fraction of the cost that would have been charged by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The CSIR’s work on the Acepod Mk 2 resulted in the development of a new methodology for integrating large payloads onto fast jets, which has since been patented.

The first flight test of the Acepod Mk 2 took place in March this year. Primary envelope expansion tests have demonstrated the pod’s compatibility with the Hawk, confirming its structural and operational integrity in flight. The next phase, involving the testing of the pod’s actual jamming payload, is scheduled for early next year. This timeline depends on the availability of testing facilities in South Africa, including critical vibration tests that will further validate the pod’s performance.

The pod requires considerable support from the aircraft to function, as it draws power from the Hawk to run its onboard systems. The collaborative effort between Sysdel, the CSIR and the SAAF’s Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) was essential in overcoming these technical hurdles, with the CSIR orchestrating the process in close coordination with the Air Force’s Directorate System Integrity.

The Acepod Mk 2 represents a major leap in South Africa’s electronic warfare capabilities. The SAAF has never had access to such a powerful jamming pod and once fully operational, the pod will significantly enhance the SAAF’s ability to conduct EW missions and safeguard its airspace against evolving threats.

Lurker4Long:
Mmhh...interesting...

Greenandgold, I thought this was a nice cheeky touch by the Ukrainian foreign minister's delegation during the press conference with minister Lamola in Pretoria.

Lurker4Long:
Greenandgold, I thought this was a nice cheeky touch by the Ukrainian foreign minister's delegation during the press conference with
minister Lamola in Pretoria.

Lol

Don't know if it was was a great idea to make Ronald Lamola the minister of foreign affairs though, I mean he's arrogant, immature and hot-headed. He's doing international politics like he's at an ANCYL township meeting.

GreenandGold:
Lol

Don't know if it was was a great idea to make Ronald Lamola the minister of foreign affairs though, I mean he's arrogant, immature and hot-headed. He's doing international politics like he's at an ANCYL township meeting.

I'm also ambivalent about Lamola. There appears to be some shadow boxing between DIRCO and DOD on foreign policy, which doesn't bode well. And a new weak defence minister means the generals are doing as they please.

Lurker4Long:
No, we can't. SADC allowed the mission to lapse for 2 reasons:
1) it was woefully under-funded;
2) the Mozambicans didn't fulfill the signed agreement. They did nothing to address the socio-economic grievances that led to the insurgency, preferring to focus only on a military solution. Even with that, they were not doing basic things like beefing up presence in areas that SAMIM had cleared of ISIS.
It's a sovereign country; they best know what they want.

Your number 2 echo's what is happening in Nigeria's Northwest and to and to an Congo

This is not an excuse.

Nigeria spent billions, lost thousands of men, stayed for decades in countries despite broken contracts and agreements from your south Africa, DRC, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra leone, Mali, Sudan, still received insults from those they went to help.

South africa ran away with it's tail between it's legs.

All this yapping doesn't mean crap.

The only thing south africa is good at is xenophobia and a$$-kissing their Boer thieving oppressors.

However, i support an independent WHITE country of Orania, Klopfontein & the cape area.

Lurker4Long:
No, we can't. SADC allowed the mission to lapse for 2 reasons:
1) it was woefully under-funded;
2) the Mozambicans didn't fulfill the signed agreement. They did nothing to address the socio-economic grievances that led to the insurgency, preferring to focus only on a military solution. Even with that, they were not doing basic things like beefing up presence in areas that SAMIM had cleared of ISIS.
It's a sovereign country; they best know what they want.

rugged7:
This is not an excuse.

Nigeria spent billions, lost thousands of men, stayed for decades in countries despite broken contracts and agreements from your south Africa, DRC, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra leone, Mali, Sudan, still received insults from those they went to help.

South africa ran away with it's tail between it's legs.

All this yapping doesn't mean crap.

The only thing south africa is good at is xenophobia and a$$-kissing their Boer thieving oppressors.

However, i support an independent WHITE country of Orania, Klopfontein & the cape area.

Permanent seat with no VETO power I would rather we (AU) all join brics


https://www.passblue.com/2024/11/10/which-2-african-states-should-get-a-permanent-seat-in-the-security-council-our-survey-results/

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) can play an important role in protecting national key points

Rapid advancements in distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology have led to its widespread adoption across various sectors, particularly border security. Denel is promoting DAS for protecting national key points and other critical infrastructure.

At the recent African Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2024 exhibition, Denel Integrated Systems Solutions (Denel ISS) demonstrated the capabilities of a distributed acoustic sensing system. The live demonstration featured a DAS interrogator unit housed in a shelter, connected to a fibre optic (f/o) cable. This cable, buried along a fence and service road, acted as the sensing medium. Movements of people and vehicles were detected in real-time and displayed on a map inside the shelter.

The events were relayed to a security incident management system, which utilized additional sensors like CCTV cameras and Thermal Radar (thermal imaging) to confirm and classify perceived threats during all-weather day and night conditions. This system integration showcased how multiple sensors in a layered defence system work together to improve overall situational awareness in a threat rich environment like national key points, borders and other military/commercial installations.

DAS technology, first described by Professor Xiaoyi Bao of the University of Ottawa in 2010, utilises a single strand of fibre optic cable to transmit laser pulses. By analysing the back-scattered light from these pulses, the system can accurately pinpoint the location and type of an event. When calibrated, DAS can achieve positional accuracy within 10 meters over a cable length of circa 200 km and classify events with over 95% accuracy. The system can measure strain and temperature changes along the cable, enhancing its detection capabilities and thus applications.

DAS is particularly effective in detecting a wide range of activities, such as walking, digging, drilling, tunnelling, or shooting, near the buried fibre optic cable. This covert, non-line-of-sight monitoring system can detect events with a vibration or acoustic signature. As f/o cable is used as a sensing medium, the system acts as a string of “passive” microphones along the length of the cable, requiring no electrical power and is immune to electromagnetic (EM) interference such as lightning. Vehicles traveling along or crossing the cable’s route can be tracked, with sensing distances extending up to 100 kilometres along a perimeter and even further with specialized cables.

Rapid advancements in DAS technology have led to its widespread adoption in various industries. In the oil and gas sector, it is used for seismic monitoring of drill holes and detecting pipeline leaks or tampering. The transportation industry employs DAS to monitor road traffic and infrastructure conditions, while railways use it to track train movements and prevent illegal activities. DAS is crucial for monitoring telecommunication, electrical, and copper cable infrastructure, enabling proactive responses to vandalism. In security applications, DAS helps protect sensitive perimeters, such as those around airports, military/commercial installations, and borders.

Border management is a key area where DAS technology shines, allowing up to 200 kilometres of border to be covertly monitored between two interrogators. This technology minimizes the need for costly and often ineffective patrols using drones and personnel only. Now drones and other sensors can be used to verify events reported by a DAS system. Once an event has been confirmed, border guards can be dispatched directly to the affected area, enabling rapid interdiction of illegal activities. DAS acts as a force multiplier when integrated with other systems integrated by Denel ISS, enhancing the overall effectiveness of border security, Dr Dawie Roos from Denel ISS explained.

DAS technology has been effectively deployed between borders in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia, to name a few. By deploying DAS along these borders, nations can eliminate dependency on third-party technologies, such as satellite imagery, that could compromise national security, he concluded.

^ I like what I just read

Good stuff always on display at AAD. Hopefully my DHQ/MOI stop using it for paid tourism

Fidha254:
Permanent seat with no VETO power I would rather we (AU) all join brics


https://www.passblue.com/2024/11/10/which-2-african-states-should-get-a-permanent-seat-in-the-security-council-our-survey-results/

Who the hell made this one our foreign minister…??

rugged7:
This is not an excuse.

Nigeria spent billions, lost thousands of men, stayed for decades in countries despite broken contracts and agreements from your south Africa, DRC, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra leone, Mali, Sudan, still received insults from those they went to help.

South africa ran away with it's tail between it's legs.

All this yapping doesn't mean crap.

The only thing south africa is good at is xenophobia and a$$-kissing their Boer thieving oppressors.

However, i support an independent WHITE country of Orania, Klopfontein & the cape area.

Why is this one crying?

SAAF Oryx evacuates tourist from cruise liner off Cape Agulhas

The South African Air Force (SAAF), working with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and other stakeholders, has evacuated a German tourist suffering a medical emergency off a cruise liner off the coast of Cape Agulhas.

The NSRI said the medical evacuation took place on the morning of Sunday 10 November. A 22 Squadron Oryx, accompanied by three NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) rescue swimmers and a Western Cape Government Health EMS (emergency medical services) rescue paramedic, rendezvoused with the ship 20 nautical offshore of Cape Agulhas.

On arrival at the AIDAstella, a Sphinx-class cruise ship built for AIDA Cruises, an NSRI ASR rescue swimmer and the EMS rescue paramedic were hoisted onto the vessel.

According to Ewald Bonzet, NSRI Airborne Sea Rescue duty controller, the patient had been secured by the ship’s medical staff and after being loaded into a stretcher the patient, in a serious condition, was hoisted into the helicopter followed by the two rescue crew.

The patient was airlifted to Ysterplaat Air Force Base where ER24 ambulance services, Life Healthcare response paramedics and Taurus Medical were in attendance.

The patient, age 72, was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), SAAF (SA Air Force) Command, SAAF Ysterplaat Air Force Base controllers, NSRI Airborne Sea Rescue duty controllers, NSRI Agulhas duty controllers, Western Cape Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Police Sea Borderline Control, Transnet National Ports Authority Port of Table Bay Port Control and the shipping agent assisted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in the logistics of the rescue.

AIDAstella is in the midst of a repositioning cruise from the Mediterranean to Asia. Like all other major cruise lines, AIDA Cruises has been forced to avoid the Red Sea and sail around Africa instead of through the Suez Canal, due to the security crisis in Yemen.

The ship is sailing a 43-night cruise from Palma de Mallorca to Dubai, but had departed November 8th from Cape Town on a separate 24-night Cape Town to Dubai leg visiting Port Elizabeth, East London, and Durban in South Africa, as well as Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

ProForce

Ze Germans are here!

*Last pic not in Cape Town

Nigerian Air Force Multi-role M346FA Fighter Jet.

Unlike the FA, the Trainer versions of the M346 don't seem to have any visible hardpoints.

Lurker4Long:
Ze Germans are here!

*Last pic not in Cape Town

What's the occasion?

Lurker4Long:
Ze Germans are here!

*Last pic not in Cape Town

What's wingeria?

GreenandGold:
What's the occasion?

At first I thought Exercise Good Hope, but the last one was here -meaning next one is in Germany.
Found out they were participating in some Pacific exercise and are now going home.
They're too scared to run the Houthi gauntlet in the Red Sea!
And yet they were poking the dragon by sailing in the Taiwan Strait!

MiddleDimension:
What's wingeria?

Don't understand the question.

Lurker4Long:
Don't understand the question.

you can see ''dear wingeria'' in the pictures

oh, its ''dean wingerin''. I had to zoom in to see better

Naval Exercise IBSAMAR VIII
The eighth edition of Exercise IBSAMAR, the multinational maritime exercise involving the navies of South Africa, Brazil and India, has commenced, marking another milestone in the trilateral collaboration between these maritime nations.
Held every two years, the exercise rotates leadership among the three participating nations, with South Africa serving as the permanent host due to its strategic geographical location.

Exercise IBSAMAR provides a platform for the naval forces of these nations to conduct a variety of exercises, both ashore and at sea, aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening maritime security.
The South African Navy has deployed the frigate SAS Amatola, supported by a Super Lynx helicopter, an Oryx helicopter and two Hawk jets. Brazil’s contribution includes the Niteroi-class frigate BNS Defensora, equipped with a Super Lynx helicopter and a Special Forces team. India is participating with the frigate INS Talwar, its onboard Ka-31 AEW helicopter and an Indian Special Forces team.

A key technological highlight of Exercise IBSAMAR VIII is the use of the Indian Navy’s NISHAR (Network for Information Sharing) system. This system enables seamless communication and information sharing between the participating naval forces, enhancing their ability to coordinate operations and develop a common operating picture.

NISHAR uses portable terminals that work on plug-and-play architecture, allowing the participating navies to share text, emails and, when satellite bandwidth allows, images and video conferencing. This level of connectivity is crucial during joint exercises, ensuring that all units can communicate effectively over long distances.

Thus, India, Brazil and South Africa can establish a unified communication framework during operations, enhancing their ability to conduct joint maritime exercises and share tactical information.

Exercise IBSAMAR goes beyond military cooperation, serving as a symbol of the shared commitment of South Africa, Brazil and India to safeguard maritime security and promote stability in their regions. The successful execution of this exercise not only demonstrates the operational readiness of the participating navies but also reinforces the bonds of friendship and cooperation among the three nations.

As Brazilian Commander Almeida Malos de Carvalho aptly put it, “IBSAMAR is one of the pillars of our defence responses, a high-strength collaboration and exchange of knowledge between our nations.”

SAS Amatola returns to the fight with successful Ibsamar VIII

Dean Wingrin

The sea phase of the multinational maritime Exercise Ibsamar VIII has wrapped up successfully off the Cape West Coast, showcasing the combined efforts of South Africa, Brazil and India.

This latest iteration of the naval drill involved South Africa’s SAS Amatola, India’s INS Talwar and Brazil’s BNS Defensora, which departed Simon’s Town Harbour on 10 October after an alongside phase from 7 to 9 October. Upon departing the safety of the harbour, the ships immediately faced simulated attacks by fast incoming attack craft, setting the stage for a series of complex manoeuvres and exercises over the week-long training period.

The drills included close-proximity ship manoeuvring, helicopter operations, replenishment at sea (RAS) exercises, seamanship evolutions and air defence activities with two South African Air Force Hawks which had deployed to Air Force Base Langebaanweg. The fleet also simulated warfare against each other as well as a live Gunex evolution using a “Killer Tomato” added to the range of training.

According to Captain Dieter Jones, Officer Commanding SAS Amatola, the exercise emphasised the enduring cooperation between South Africa, Brazil and India, having taken place eight times over the past 16 years.

For SAS Amatola, the exercise marked a significant milestone. After years of inactivity due to maintenance issues, the ship was brought back into service earlier this year through the dedicated efforts of its crew. However, since then, Amatola has regained operational momentum by conducting border safeguarding patrols under Operation Corona off the West Coast of South Africa and participating in exercises with a visiting Chinese frigate.

Reflecting on the challenges and achievements during the exercise, Jones emphasised the remarkable growth of the crew, especially the younger sailors.

“The most rewarding part as a Captain is seeing how my young people have developed over the six days at sea,” he said. “Their knowledge base, competence and confidence have grown significantly.”

Continuing, he said: “We don’t get the opportunity to do these exercises often, so operating at sea in a multi-threat environment with other ships in close proximity really hones the skills.”

“We have skilled warfare operators on board who operate various systems,” Jones noted. “During the exercise, we operated in both Combat State One and Two threat environments, staying in a tense warfare setting for several hours. This involved conducting surveillance, compiling a recognised maritime picture and defending ourselves against simulated attacks. You can’t fully replicate the real thing, but this time it was real, and they did it.”

The crew also gained valuable experience in RAS operations, which involved conducting tight formations and transferring gear between ships.

“These are tasks we don’t often get to perform, so from a command perspective, it was great exposure,” Jones explained, “The precise pilotage required for station-keeping demonstrated the capability of the teams on board.”

The exercise also strengthened the interoperability between the participating navies.

“The culmination of very close manoeuvres showed that we have all grown in our ability to operate together,” Jones observed. He highlighted the camaraderie that developed among the younger sailors, who bonded with their counterparts from the other nations.

“Seeing the youngsters who have never been involved in these types of exercises bond with others from different countries was a positive outcome. When we exchanged personnel or brought visitors on board, it was clear that these experiences left a lasting impact,” he said.

For the Commanding Officer of SAS Amatola, this was Jones’ first time leading an exercise of this nature in command.

“It involved a lot of sleepless nights, but it was worth it,” he said. “It provided a clear picture of what is required when operating a warship at sea, and I am proud of how well the crew performed.”

The successful completion of Exercise Ibsamar VIII has not only bolstered the maritime skills of all involved but also deepened the ties between South Africa, Brazil and India. As the ships returned to Simon’s Town on 16 October, they did so with enhanced capabilities and stronger bonds, ready for the next chapter in their ongoing efforts to ensure regional maritime security.

Following a brief rest period for the crew, Amatola is set to undertake a three-month anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel as part of Operation Copper. These deployments underline the ship’s return to active service and its ongoing contributions to regional maritime security.

1/...

...2/...

...3/...