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Foreign AffairsRe: African Militaries/ Security Services Strictly Photos Only And Videos Thread by rka1: 10:12pm On Oct 22, 2013
Underground: Perhaps I am wrong but I noticed that all members of our special ops teams carry the same weapon. Shouldn't there be someone carrying the heavy guns such as the FN Minimi or something?
I think it depends on the mission. The photos that Henry120 posted a few weeks ago of SBS commandos in NE Nigeria showed a commando on the back of a pick-up with a light machine gun over the front cabin.

The importance of some sort of sub machine gun for suppressive fire cannot be over emphasized.
Foreign AffairsRe: African Militaries/ Security Services Strictly Photos Only And Videos Thread by rka1: 6:21pm On Oct 22, 2013
Henry120: Very important guys, please look at the beach landing photo, the one with troops on the beach.................

When ignorant journalist, and poorly educated nigerians open there mouths and say nigerian troops are poorly trained and incompetent, my first instinct is to punch them and pull out their teeth, but in all cases I look at them and laugh.


You can clearly see how the troops are advancing, in a group of four(4). Four troops advance while the rest of the contingent provide cover overwhelming covering fire, another set of four(4) advance, the rest of the contingent provides cover. This technique provides the contingent safe passage, only a fool would be foolish enough to open fire on the advancing troops, as the hail of bullets directed at the attackers would completely decimate their anatomy.


That singular image shows a highly trained and a professional outfit. The only problem been their kitting and equipment.
Well observed if I may say so. The same principle applies during extraction.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 6:15pm On Oct 22, 2013
zaandrew: And our A109 piolts fly orx. All A109 piolts qulfie on it.

And that was my point. Just because a aircraft type is grounded does not mean it is the end. The piolts will loose there qulficastion on that aircraft and beforced too regain it next year.


People all so fail to remember simmulastors are pretty good these days.
Point taken. Simulators are indeed nearly as good as the real thing these days.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 4:03pm On Oct 22, 2013
snydergp: I weep for you a illegal Igbo immigrant in the U.S who continuesly shows his ignorance. I've told you and your fellow fucktarts already about my rank in the SAAF I dont have time to stoop to your monkeys level of debating.


Like I said before your a foolish school boy who thinks his funny while he exposes himself as a amateur trying to create an impression of being knowledgeable.

You try to make simulations on your terms with some laughable tactics while being completely ignorant on the ability of what the opposing force. I guess this is youthful exuberance on the forefront coupled with fantasies.
If you are indeed a serving officer in the SANDF then I think you ought to be ashamed of yourself using such derogatory language. You have no respect for the uniform you wear. Nobody invited you to participate in this forum if you don't like the debate.

You SAs find it funny when you run down our military, but don't like it when the tables are turned. angry
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 12:42pm On Oct 22, 2013
snydergp: Now really it amazes me how you naai-ja boys want a 4th gen figther which is a top ten multirole jet, that is even rated beter then a SU-27/30 in in dogfight capabilities and overall avionics against a F-7.

The F-7NI avionics suit is and has never been classified.

Its laughable that some fools on this site still want to talk about a JAS-39C/D Gripen VS Chengu J-7(F-7) as being on par. This could only happen in a forum like this where naive fools who has never even seen any of the two planes in there lives accept on there phones and notebooks. I really dare anyone one of you to try this on more reputable military forums and see how you i.diots will be mocked.

Now theres only two Chinese made planes that can stand next to a Gripen and that's the J-10 and J-17, anything else I weep for your patriotic ignorance.
Cry as much as you want cry, the F7 will not roll over easily. We are talking about within visual range here and even on other military forums that have any sense of objectivity know that it isn't easy.

For your information, I am a regular visitor to international air shows and have seen modern and older fighters perform, so don't preach to me cool.

What do you know about the F7 avionics suite? Go back to the cupboard you crawled out from. grin grin grin
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 12:14pm On Oct 22, 2013
agaugust: ...and NAF 12 units of MBB 339 Jets came back from Italy after $85 million upgrade including more advanced weapons capabilities and modern electronic warfare technology installed.


.
Excuse my oversight sir.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1:
ZDee: I see naai-gerian goons are still lying to themselves about the capabilities of their useless and incompetent army, ofcoz the chief goon agogust is still feeding the muds lies that they're all too happy to swallow.
My hope was that the beating they've been getting from boko-haram would humble them, and get them to admit what the whole world and everybody not blinded by patriotism knows about their useless army. Unfortunately they've sunk deeper and deeper in their delusions and lies.
naai-gerian monkeys, when will y'all face the truth about your useless army? Your chief boon has now even convinced your 419 brains that the f7 is a match to the mighty GRIPEN . My goodness, the shithole between Benin and Cameroun produces alot of deluded humanoids.
At least we are not blinded by shiny armour and a photogenic armed forces like you have. You probably got scared seeing the achievements of our Army against BH.

Now silly man, unless your GRIPEN has the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) with high off-boresight seeker (HOBS) and missiles to match, then I am afraid the F7 has a good chance.

Live with it. cry cool cool
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 8:06pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
When to shot?..... The South African air force's Cheeter C once held an exercise with the Russian SU 27. Here's a quote of what one Cheeter C pilot said "There I was on the tail of the Sukhoi and he started to turn so I tried to follow. By the time I had done 360 degrees he had gone 720 and was on my tail" ....The Cheeter C's airframe could only handle 7G while the Sukhoi could handle up to 9G. Your F7 structure's outclassed,your avionics are outclassed. And here's my question do you think those F4 jets could take on modern jets like the Rafael,besides the F4 were primary used for Recce missions remember the one(From the Turkish air force) Syria shoot down,they weren't used as frontline fighters.........The F7 can be left zapping through the sky by modern fighters.
The F4 that was shot down by Syria was on a training flight that allegedly strayed into Syrian airspace. The Germans were using F4s as their front line fighters until this year. Haven't you seen reports of the difficulty modern NATO fighters have had engaging Romanian MIG 21 Lancers within visual range due to their speed and evasive manoeuvres? Continue to underestimate. It is good for us.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 7:44pm On Oct 21, 2013
zaandrew: The helcopters are far from rust buckets.

Last year you grounded all your F7. This issue will be resloved next year.


It is all importaned to rember SAAF operastional budget is far higher than that of nigeria. I wonder what secruits NAF has does NAF even post the number of hours they fly?
F7's are flying again and pilots have been keeping up their hours on the L-39s and Alpha Jets.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 7:39pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
That's because your war planes will be detected before they even know or detect the presence of Gripens. Giving less time to read tactical air combat situation or set traps. Besides the F7 can't swing from air to ground mission to air to air combat.
You don't even know the radar, defensive suite and avionics set-up of the F-7NI. It is classified and I remember an officer saying they were pleased with it. So bring on your Gripen and engage in visual range dog fights and get the shock of your life.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1:
Mike..ZA:
You can call chineke(God) Igbo boy. And you wanna start with the racism "thing" again?..........Fact is your army is failing to curb this massacres by boko haram. You should ask for some training from Algeria,which has been effective in fighting this terror groups. Even showing it won't negotiate with terrorists on some occasions. Almost forgot is the movie of Cyborg still premiering in Nigeria? This is sad. You're stack in the 90s you guys,oh so is that why you think your country's civil war is a modern conflict?
How can you say it is failing to curb the massacres. Do you know what an insurgency is? The facts are they have pushed BH away from urban centres, from their camps and strongholds, uncovered loads of armed caches at various locations, killed a lot of their senior leaders, have thousands of their fighters in custody and they are now mostly attacking from Cameroun at soft targets. Show me an army that has achieved this in such a short period of time? I will take this kind of "failure" anytime.

Afghanistan and their NATO allies have not come even close to this. There are still bombs going off in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Russia etc.

Do you think SANDF would be able to handle a crisis like BH? I wouldn't hold my breath.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1:
(CNN) -- Gunmen suspected of being members of the Islamist group Boko Haram attacked motorists in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, killing four, authorities said.

Nigerian Army spokesman Brigadier Genera Ibrahim Attahiru said the men, dressed in military clothing, launched the attack on a remote road in between Ikwa and Gamboru-Ngala in Borno State, close to the border of Cameroon.

"The military responded in hot pursuit of the terrorists and killed several of them," he said.

Attahiru was not able to confirm how many Boko Haram members were killed.

Borno is one of three states placed under a state of emergency by Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan in May.

The attack is the latest round of violence by Boko Haram, whose name means "Western Education is sacrilege."

According to human rights groups, the group has killed more than 3,000 people in a campaign to impose strict Sharia law in northeastern Nigeria.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/21/world/africa/nigeria-attack/
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 7:05pm On Oct 21, 2013
NaijaPikinGidi: Reason why he will remain permanently consigned to his baby bathtub! Nothing can change his immaturity!
I tire O!
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 6:57pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
And oh!!! You guys always claim "NA walks the walk",but fail to provide me with real prove where NA was heavily engaged with a enemy that has modern(system that are still used today) heavy systems like Main battle tanks,fighter jets,SAMs,shoulder fired SAMs,APCs,armoued fighting vehicles,artillery,Multiple rocket launchers,constant fresh supplies of equipment,helicopters and AA guns. Not some hungry rebels resorting to cannibalism to keep alive. I'd be happy and show respect to your military,without that prove Nigeria will always be ranked below Algeria,Ethiopia and the continent advanced country SOUTH AFRICA!!!
Time and again it has been shown to you, but you refuse to acknowledge. I am not going to repeat posts. Go back through the thread and even see the video posted by agaugust during the Biafran war back then not to talk of the conflicts in SL, Liberia, Chad etc.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 6:53pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
Denel's 81mm mortar and NTW-20 sniper rifle are in the DRC. Just a month ago they were put to test and nicely neutralised M23 rebels. Now the highly sophisticated Rooivalk attack chooper is headed there too. Hornets and Geckos were also used in CAR including the Griffins during the evacuation. Don't lie to your self with that "good as the user rubbish",ask China how technology can easily change the battlefield in favour of the person with modern equipment. That country rushed its well trained and masters of disguise troops into the DPRK,only to find that most were killed cause they still used World war 2 weapons. While the USA G.Is packed spanking new systems.
Oh! so you are now comparing war with a bunch of rag tag rebels in CAR as real warfare, but it is not the case for Nigeria in SL, Liberia, NE Nigeria when mortar, artillery, attack helicopters etc were used? OK.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 6:43pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
I should changed my name to Mike..Facts......What South Africa lacks in numbers,we make up in precision. Unless Nigeria can get real fighter jets your artillery,Main battle tanks and APCs will always be prey for the advanced South African air force. South Africa will control the skies meaning drones like the Vulture will be feeding SANDF artillery units with movement of your ground forces. Upgrading the F7 four billion times won't change a thing,cause its structure(TAIL) is not suitable for the 21st century dogfights. Here's a silly analogy for you: Egypt still has the upgraded T-35 MBT in service,can this tank take on the Israeli Merkava in a battle? NO. right? No matter what you can put inside it,its structure is obsolete. Just like SAAF's cheeter jets they have the most advanced avionics(still classified today.
Can you explain why Greece, Turkey and until a few weeks ago Germany use the Phantom F-4 which is an older frame than the F7? It is because of the EW and other sensor suites.

The F7's suite and defensive aids are quite capable now that the other issues have been ironed out. You are just so naïve to think that a few alleged advanced weapons will defeat anybody. You watch too many Hollywood movies. People do die for real you know when shot. cheesy cheesy
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 1:41pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
South Africa's military history is rich. From the zulus bringing a knife to a gun fight and still wiping out an entire British battalion to the Boers holding the British at bay with little numbers. Which "mark" are you talking about?,Your country has never faced any Main battle tank,artillery,Multiple rocket launchers and fighter jets. WHAT Markhuh? Don't even talk about Biafra or sierra leone. YOU HAVE NO COMBAT RECORD!!!! Your ill experienced field commanders would make an embarrassing retreat when jets start flying over their heads or when precise shell start raining on their heads.
My goodness, you are naïve.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 1:39pm On Oct 21, 2013
drag_on: i told you both forces (Nigeria and South Africa) don't use BVR, which is the ultimate sensor,and significant advantage of any 4th Gen fighter in a air to air confrontation.What is the significance of your long range radar if you have to enter the range of your opponents tracking radar to fire? When you both see each other it's up to the pilots. Do you not know the role tactics play in a fight? Weapons without tactics is Hollywood.
Spot on. It becomes 50/50 and then the skill of the individual pilots come to the fore as the F-7 is smaller and more difficult to keep a track of.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 1:35pm On Oct 21, 2013
Mike..ZA:
Laughing at the rust on your obsolete arsenal?
Obsolete in your head. As I have always said, the equipment is only as good as the user. When were any of SANDF's shiny new weapons used in a modern war scenario? undecided

You can only talk the talk. NA walks the walk all the time. cool cool cool cool
Foreign AffairsRe: African Militaries/ Security Services Strictly Photos Only And Videos Thread by rka1: 8:30pm On Oct 20, 2013
Henry120: There are so many defence acquisitions that are not for public consumption. I got my report from SIPRI. There are few sources that can match the professionalism of SIPRI.

For example, the navy flies bell helicopters, however you cannot provide me with a single source that showed that the navy acquired bell helicopters.
That is true, but a big project like this? I know there were rumours about the Pipavav deal with an Indian dockyard, but then I read somewhere that there hadn't been any progress. Don't get me wrong, nobody will be more pleased if it comes to pass.

SIPRI did though make that error with the SU25s, lets hope they learnt from that. I suppose the Nigerian military can be secretive at times.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 5:44pm On Oct 20, 2013
NaijaPikinGidi: No be everything wey person go follow these idiots dey argue about. Several pages ago we dealt with dis same matter. Dem blockhead South Africans no dey tire at all? grin grin
Tell them jare.
Foreign AffairsRe: African Militaries/ Security Services Strictly Photos Only And Videos Thread by rka1: 5:41pm On Oct 20, 2013
Henry120: coming to the nigerian navy in 2015. 2 more OPV's from PIPAVAV, with an option of 2 more. 4 in total from pipavav. The same model of OPV delivered to the indian navy.
I really pray it is true but I am really skeptical about this as it hasn't been reported officially through any official channels in Nigeria.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 4:45pm On Oct 20, 2013
Mike..ZA:
The Americans and Dutch are training you. You want a link or something again.
And what is wrong with training using an amphibious support ship as the Nigerian Navy has plans to buy a LPD? That is forward planning.

[b]The objective of AFRICAN WINDS is to enhance the capacity of African military forces to develop and improve their capacity to jointly plan and execute military operations in a maritime environment. The countries covered by the programme are: Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroun.

Under the programme, the Netherland Maritime Forces is providing an amphibious logistic support ship, the HMNLS ROTTERDAM to support the training and exercises. The ship which carries a total of 668 troops, 4 helicopters and 6 special boats called Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) is expected to be in Lagos from 15 – 18 October and in Calabar from 21 – 24 October. It also carries many Fast Raid Interception Special Forces Craft used in inserting small number of specially trained troops from sea to land particularly in creeks. The LCU is capable of carrying up to 120 fully equipped soldiers while the LCVP carries 35 Special Forces troops over a distance of 200 nautical miles. The LCUs and LCVPs are used to land troops from the sea to specific objectives on land.
[/b]

http://www.african-defense.com/?p=3692
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1:
[quote author=Mike..ZA]That's what Nigeria is good at: Getting trained by superpowers and never to use their skills in real combat. Here's a link below for you to read about a real combat tested system the G5 howitzer. A battery can fire the weight of a VW beetle in a minute,nothing comes close to this in Nigeria's arsenal. www.africandefence.net/fibs-war-on-m23-could-be-heating-up/[/quote


AFRICA PARTNERSHIP STATION


TOUBAKOUTA, Senegal, Apr 27, 2011 — A fast-moving river boat bouncing up and down the waterways can be an easy target for the adversary who may be dug in at each bank of the river. To compound on the boat's liability it can prove to be a difficult platform to hold steady when returning the enemy's fire. Accurate shooting on a fast river boat takes a skill that the Nigerians have honed.

In the spirit of multilateral collaboration and cross-border cooperation--both cornerstones of Africa Partnership Station 2011--the Nigerian Navy provided six instructors to share their experiences with the Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) in riverine operations, while the Senegalese contributed their expertise is small boat maneuver.

"Our specialty is we teach how to fight on water, on a fast patrol boat," said Nigerian sailor, Corporal Abiodun Egbikume, able seaman and a native of Lagos, Nigeria. According to Egbikume, the Nigerian Navy has a lot of experience with security in the Nigerian waterways protecting oil rigs from pirates.

The riverine range comprised of about 400 meters of river banks lined with various targets at river and tree levels. The river boats motored off gyrating up and down while U.S. marines, with 60 rounds each, applied their new marksmanship skills to the test.

[b]"We are conducting a live-fire range for riverine operations," said Lieutenant Moses K. Omopariola, chief instructor, Special Boat Service, Nigerian Navy. "We're here to teach the men how to shoot on the boat because the platform we shoot on is not very stable … it rocks, so you need to learn how to stabilize yourself while shooting at your targets."

[/b]Rounds chopped down branches and made large splashes proving the skill of shooting on a fast moving boat is not an easy task; however, many found their targets.

"It's important to apply the fundamentals because you don't want to waste rounds by shooting in the water, you want to be able to hit your targets," said Omopariola, a 2006 graduate of The Basic School, a U.S. Marine Corps officers' course in Quantico, Va. "You really need to conduct it proficiently."

Omopariola and his cadre of instructors provide three days of classes before the Marines hit the range. The instruction involved a lot of tactics on river operations. The river range is not something Marines typically train to do, and the training amounts to more than just firing weapons at targets while on a boat.

"You also have to take time to learn how to drive the boat; you have to learn how to read the wave and learn when to shoot and when not to shoot," said Omopariola.

The live-fire range was limited to linear shooting, or shooting at only one side of the river bank; however, according to Omopariola, if in a multiple boat formation and the adversary attacked from both sides of the river, boat marksmen run the risk of accidentally shooting each other. "You have to be able to access your terrain and be able to shoot only at the enemy and not end up shooting yourself," he said.

The Senegalese marines also showed their proficiency in maneuvering the boat on the river. The boat driver skillfully leaned the boat to its side to allow the U.S. Marines a better position and a more open view of the targets.

"The big thing with this type of training is the cooperation that's going on between the Nigerians, the Senegalese and the U.S. Marines," said 1st Lieutenant Michael J. Thomas, 2nd platoon commander and executive officer of the Ground Combat Element, SCTF, APS-11. "[River operation] is something the Nigerians are very good at and the Senegalese have some skills, so it's something they bring to the table and show us how to do."

According to Thomas, security assistance is about cooperation and understanding between partner nations in order to promote greater regional stability. Military to military events such as these enhance the interoperability and helps increase our partners' security capacity.

"The partnership is great," Omopariola said. "We bring our countries together so if we have a common threat we can operate on the same platform. You are only as strong as your weakest link. If you have one who is not up the standards, he will mess up your entire operation."

The live-fire course was part of APS-11, a U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) maritime security engagement program that is designed to strengthen participating nations' maritime security capacity. Marine Corps Forces, Africa is supporting APS 11 with a security assistance force based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. The SCTF began its deployment in Ghana in March and is slated to continue its follow-on mission at Gabon in June.

http://www.africom.mil/Newsroom/Article/8246/senegalese-nigerian-special-forces-show-marines-sm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao2ZYkaEwKk
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 5:20pm On Oct 19, 2013
Mike..ZA:
SAN trains with NATO navies,unlike the Nigerian whom when NATO navies comes to their waters bow down and get a training. Get your self fighter jets before you can start try fight a real army,not the rebels you're used to.
I take it you are not happy that NN are having training with American, Dutch, Spanish & British Special forces before then carrying out a beach landing/littoral warfare exercise? cool cool
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 5:17pm On Oct 19, 2013
Mike..ZA:
A combination of artillery strikes and air strikes by the Gripens and Hawks. Can destroy that. South Africa armed forces can be flexible during a conventional war cause of the air force,SAAF's helicopters can move an entire battalion with a single flight. Unless Nigeria gets a real fighter jets South Africa will defeat your military anytime.
What, the same helicopters that are mostly grounded and haven't got enough fuel for exercises? grin grin grin
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 10:33pm On Oct 18, 2013
chris365: grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin

their ship is on a field trip to visit other contries and the dummy thinks they are fighting piracy grin
Never could a truer word have been spoken. grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 6:00pm On Oct 18, 2013
RSS



South Africa’s military meltdown


On the face of it, life continues as normal, but behind the scenes the South African military has been cut to the point where it's doubtful it will be able to live up to its African responsibilities.
By Martin Plaut Published 29 July 2013 14:57

An honour guard lines up for the arrival of the US President at the Union Building in Pretoria, South Africa in June 2013. Photo: Getty

The South African military – once feared across much of Africa – is today in steep decline. Its budget has been slashed; its equipment unserviced and unserviceable and its troops demoralised. In the 1980s – at the height of apartheid – the country spent four per cent of GDP on the military. Today that figure stands at around one per cent. While cuts were certainly justified, the scale of the reductions has done lasting damage to the Defence Force.

This is, of course, not the impression the Ministry of Defence provides the South African public. On the face of it, life continues as normal. A major military exercise is currently under way with the United States military.

And South African troops are being readied for deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to participate in what the United Nation describes as its first-ever “offensive” combat force. This is intended to carry out targeted operations to “neutralise and disarm” the notorious M23 rebels currently operating around the eastern town of Goma, as the United Nations press release put it.

This must have come as news to the South African military, since they were soon denying (pdf) any intention of fighting the Rwandan backed rebels. “We (SANDF) have consistently indicated that we have not engaged any rebel force in the in the eastern DRC and we repeat that that remains the case,” a press statement from the Ministry of Defence declared on 16 July. Since bringing a semblance of stability to the Goma area was the reason the force was created and this would inevitably mean fighting the M23, it is not clear what element of the plan the South Africans failed to grasp.


Leaving this confusion aside, there are real questions about the South African military’s ability to go on mounting such operations. The past few months have seen a series of setbacks.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the Air Force has no maintenance contract for the 26 Grippen fighter jets, ordered at great cost in 1999. Without maintenance they aircraft are almost useless.


None of the Air Force’s Agusta light utility helicopters are flying any more, because there are no funds for the exercises.

One of South Africa’s submarines – the SAS Queen Modjadji - had its outer hull damaged after hitting the seabed. This led to questions in Parliament, with calls for those responsible to be disciplined, and complaints that the accident “speaks of negligence and poor training.”

The main naval shipyard, at Simonstown, is running at less than a third of the capacity required to service the fleet, and is – according to the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu - unable to recruit the skilled staff it requires.


These issues come after years of grumbling from pilots, who said they lacked fuel and ammunition for routine exercises, and left for Australia, New Zealand and other destinations in droves. Only six trained Grippen pilots were said to remain earlier this year, eking out 150 hours flying time over the whole year.

The opposition Democratic Alliance has called for a crisis meeting on the subject – pointing out that while funding is not available for essentials, the Air Force has been required to provide R50m (£3.4m) to fly government VIPS around the country and on foreign jaunts. “The South African Air Force are in danger of being reduced to an airborne taxi service for VIPs," said DA defence spokesman, David Maynier.

According to Helmoed Heitmann, South African correspondent of Jane’s Defence Weekly, there is another critical issue, which no-one dares mention: the military is badly over-manned. “They need to kick out around 20,000 people,” Heitmann told the New Statesman. “But the authorities know if they do this, they will put men on the streets who have access to guns and an ability to use them. They would only end up filling the jails.” As a result the 88,000 strong military can’t be slimmed down, in line with its reduced budget.

Heitmann believes the R40bn funding (1.1 per cent of GDP) would need to be doubled to provide South Africa with a force that can really meet the defence needs of the country.

“At present the Defence Force can provide border protection, one African peacekeeping operation and can either patrol South Africa’s own waters or fight piracy in the Mozambique channel – but not both,” says Heitmann.

Hanging over the debate is the perennial question of the corruption in the $4.8bn 1999 Arms Deal. This is a ghost that refuses to depart. Last month there were fresh revelations that the former chairman of Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Tony Yengeni, signed a R6mn kickback deal with a German company providing frigates for South Africa. Yengeni refused to confirm or deny the allegation. He told the Mail & Guardian newspaper “I’ve got nothing to say on all you’re saying”.

A Commission of Inquiry into the Arms Deal was announced in 2011. It has yet to begin hearing witnesses. Commission critics say they have lost faith in its investigation, since they are being denied the right to cross-question witnesses. This is only the latest criticism of the Commission, which was previously accused of failing in its duty, for claiming that there is no evidence implicating the ANC in Arms Deal corruption.

While all this is serious, the real calamity is that South Africa - one of the few democracies on the continent that had an effective military - is so limited in its ability to live up to its African responsibilities. Sending troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo is fine, but what about Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and the other conflicts that need to be addressed? As long as Pretoria starves its armed forces of the necessary funds, these needs will go unanswered, or the African Union will have to turn to the United States, France or Britain to pull its irons out of the fire.

http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2013/07/south-africas-military-meltdown
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 5:41pm On Oct 18, 2013
Mike..ZA:
If you have a powerful navy then why are pirate attacks increasing?...And why is the SAN patrolling in the area of your influence.
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32168:improved-nigerian-maritime-surveillance-and-response-cuts-crude-oil-theft-and-piracy&catid=108:maritime-security&Itemid=233
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 5:38pm On Oct 18, 2013
agaugust: reason why i war the south africans, dont judge a country like nigeria by the age or model of its weapons like Palmaria SPHA, Roland SAM, Otomat ASM, Swingfire ATGM, F-7NI Jet with a PL-9C SRAAM....

....an intelligent user of the above weapons will shock an average opponent in battlefield.

F-7 jet Vs Gripen jet, i will post my observation this weekend...something useless about the Gripen jets 'strong points adavantages' that the south africans have been hiding on this forum...or maybe they just dont know it....all they say is show us photo of nigerian weapons...and oh ! that is old and outdated, so the weapon cannot k.ill, it is a tou for kids in school, right ?

fools of soweto shocked

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Quite right. I have always said it is not just about the equipment, but also the person using it.
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 4:36pm On Oct 18, 2013
agaugust: R.ape and M.urder is also increasing in south africa, recently your men now added both L.esbian cleansing R.ape, HIV cleansing new born baby R.ape, black men on white women R.ape to rank number one in the world with new inventions of R.ape 'science and technology'

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The BBC has gone to town with this problem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20971240
Foreign AffairsRe: Who Has The Strongest Military In Africa? by rka1: 4:33pm On Oct 18, 2013
Mike..ZA:
Attacks are increasing!!!! http:///4jcBoH8TNv
The situation is being managed with more platforms and surveillance equipment being put in place as your SA defence Web points out.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32168:improved-nigerian-maritime-surveillance-and-response-cuts-crude-oil-theft-and-piracy&catid=108:maritime-security&Itemid=233

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