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Missiles and aerospace house Denel Dynamics plans to nearly double is revenue over the next five years to nearly R2 billion and will do so in part by investing in new products and growing skills.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35349:denel-dynamics-poised-for-growth&catid=7:Industry&Itemid=116

Denel Dynamics is upgrading and improving its range of air defence, air-to-air and anti-armour missiles as it continues developing its product line and focus on future missiles.

The Umkhonto naval surface-to-air missile has been sold to three users, including the South African Navy, Finland and an undisclosed customer. Denel is planning to deploy the Umkhonto in the ground based air defence system (GBADS) environment and has recently tested the weapon from a ground based launcher, destroying targets at a range of 20 km, an improvement of 5 km. A ground based version would incorporate a Reutech radar and Denel command post and launcher.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35380:denel-dynamics-upgrading-missile-range&catid=7:Industry&Itemid=116

SANDF

Proudly South African

SANDF

THE BEST OF THE BEST SANDF

Specialist Denel division Mechem is about to ship off the first three wide body ambulance versions of its popular Casspir armoured personnel carrier and will deliver them to the United Nations in Somalia.



http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35311&catid=74&Itemid=30

Denel Aerostructures (DAe) has been awarded a fourth multi-million rand contract to manufacture and produce key parts on the Airbus A400M Atlas military airlifter.

The company will, in future, manufacture ISO locks – a combination of aluminium rails and cross tracks – to be fitted into the cargo hold of each of the giant aircraft which are to be delivered to international clients over the next six years. The contract is valued at over R260 million.

“The new work package confirms Denel Aerostructures’ reputation as an emerging player in the global aerospace environment. It is a vote of confidence in the South African engineering and high-tech manufacturing sectors,” said Denel Group chief executive, Riaz Saloojee.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35329:another-a400m-work-package-for-denel-aerostructures&catid=7:Industry&Itemid=116

Aerospace giant Boeing is looking to expand its presence in South Africa, through a range of activities including biofuels, training and manufacturing.

Miguel Santos, Vice President – Africa: Boeing International, said that, “we want to further our presence in South Africa in a variety of ways: manufacturing, pilot training, defence, commercial,” adding that Boeing was looking at southern Africa as well as it is an important market for the company.

Boeing is involved in many different sectors of the aerospace industry in South Africa. For instance it has partnered with 43 Air School on pilot training and is working on additive manufacturing and titanium powder in conjunction with local researchers and has a biofuels programme with South African Airways.

In June 2013 Boeing and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed a memorandum of understanding on research into using titanium powder in industrial manufacturing. South Africa is the second largest titanium mineral producer.

In October last year Boeing and South African Airways signed an agreement regarding the establishment of a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa. This is Boeing’s first biofuel supply chain project in Africa.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35330:boeing-looking-to-expand-presence-in-south-africa&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107

Airbus made the right decision in retaining South African companies in the supply chain for the A400M military airlift aircraft, Airbus Defence & Space executive VP: military aircraft Domingo Ureña told South African journalists in Seville recently. “I think it was the right decision to keep industrial capacity in South Africa,” he said. Important components and parts for the A400M are manufactured by South African companies Aerosud and Denel Aerostructures. “The two companies are partners,” he observed. “Hopefully, we’ll get South Africa back as a customer.”

When asked if he was referring to South Africa re-entering the A400M programme, or acquiring the smaller C295 aircraft, he responded: “Both, definitely. The C295 is the ideal aircraft to replace the C-47.” (South Africa employs a number of about 70-year old Douglas C-47 Dakotas in the maritime surveillance and light/medium transport roles. The C295 can also perform both roles.) “The A400M is ideal for troop and equipment deployments,” he pointed out. “They are different animals for different missions.”

Deliveries of A400Ms to the core customer nations are now under way. Two have been delivered to the French Air Force, which is already using them on operational missions from its main bases in France to forward airfields in Mali in support of the Franco-African mission in that country. One has been delivered to the Turkish Air Force. More deliveries will follow to more customers during the rest of the year. By the end of this year, the French will be operating seven of the aircraft while the UK Royal Air Force would have received five.

The missile business of South African missile, unmanned air vehicle and space company Denel Dynamics, part of the State-owned Denel defence industrial group, is focusing a lot of its attention and investment on to the development of radar seekers and new rocket motors. These developments are the essential prerequisites to the development of longer-ranged air defence missiles.

The company currently has two longer-ranged missile projects. These are the Umkhonto-LR medium-ranged naval surface-to-air missile (SAM) and the Marlin beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.


The Umkhonto-LR would be a development of the current Umkhonto-IR infrared homing naval SAM, which is in service with the South African and Finnish navies and has been ordered by a North African navy. The current missile is classified as a short-ranged air defence (Shorad) missile.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) special forces personnel will conduct a multinational force preparation exercise in Angola in August and September this year.

The exercise, Legae 2014 (Vale du Keve), will take place between 1 August and 13 September and will be the fifth time that South African Special Forces will participate in a similar exercise with other SADC Special Forces.

The exercise will cover counter insurgency (COIN) operations with limited satellite support by the Arms of Services, in order to build capacity and test interoperability during rural operations in mountainous, jungle and waterborne environments.

The exercise will take place in the region of Cuanza Sul in Angola. The exercise proper will commence on 28 August.

In October last year more than 700 special forces personnel from several SADC countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia, took part in Exercise Welwitschia in Namibia.

The exercise involved practicing the tactics, techniques and procedures of desert warfare and improving the readiness and interoperability of SADC special forces. It also gave special forces the chance to co-ordinate anti-piracy operations.

Munitions company Denel PMP aims to double its turnover to over R1 billion over the next five years as it grows its presence in Africa and meets the growing requirements of the local market.

The South African Government is considering brushing the dust off its rocket launching facilities to use them for space science. The Overberg Test Range has a wide complement of facilities, including the in-flight testing of advanced guided and aviation systems for the aerospace industry, but its launching facilities have been mothballed since 1992.

At the launch of Global Space Week on Friday, science and technology director general Phil Mjwara said his department was exploring the possibility of reviving the launch facilities, operated by arms company Denel, at the Western Cape site. "We are looking at the feasibility of [whether] it would make sense for us to resuscitate the activities there," said Mjwara, adding that he had returned from the United States following conversations with Nasa about possible collaboration.

This would be an about-turn from the previous uses of Overberg Test Range's launch capacity, namely launching missiles in the late 1980s under the guide of Denel's previous incarnation, Armscor.

South Africa has a natural geographic advantage when it comes to studying climate change, and Southern Ocean research forms an important part of the science agenda in the country. The Southern Ocean is the only ocean that is surrounded by other oceans, not land. University of Cape Town's Isabelle Ansorge, who is part of the Marine Research Institute, once described the Southern Ocean as the "lungs of the world's water".

Denel Dynamics is bidding for a naval air defence contract in Vietnam and is offering the South-east Asian nation its Umkhonto short-range air defence missile as fitted on the South African Navy's frigate fleet and six Finnish warships.

South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group, Denel, is modernising most of its product offerings to increase.The group aims to increase its revenues to more than R7-billion by 2018 and achieve an order book worth five times that amount, or more than R35-billion. About half that order book would be for customers within Africa, including South Africa. The other main markets targeted by Denel are the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South America.

Currently, exports account for 50% of total group revenues, which have improved by more than 10%. Profit increased by R30-million to R71-million. Only one unit in the group, Denel Aerostructures, continues to lose money, but it has improved its situation by 35%. The group’s research and development spending exceeds R528-million a year. This is planned to increase, with a special focus on unmanned vehicles and artillery. Denel is also introducing new missile technology. It will continue to produce world-class products in these areas, as well as in ammunition and in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, particularly in Africa.

Achievements were the continuing qualification of the A-Darter infrared homing air-to-air missile, being developed jointly with Brazil, and the start of the contract to build the new Badger infantry fighting vehicles for the South African Army. (The Badger is a local adaptation of Finland’s Patria armoured modular vehicle.)

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the SAAF has deployed three Rooivalks to the Democratic Republic of Congo to join the aviation unit of the United Nations Mission in the Congo (Monusco) and support Monusco’s Interven- tion Brigade, which includes South African troops. Defence-web reported that the Rooivalks have already undertaken successful combat missions against M23 rebels in the east of the DRC.

Increased levels of fighting in South Sudan have apparently led to the SA Army being asked to send a mounted infantry battalion to the continent’s newest state in an effort to restore order.

At the same time the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said more than 23 000 South Sudanese have fled to Uganda.

Fighting continues between government forces and rebels despite ceasefire talks being underway and the volatile situation in South Sudan is on the agenda of an AU meeting currently underway in Addis Ababa.

Afrikaans daily Beeld reported Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as saying it would be difficult for the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) to make 1 000 soldiers available for deployment to South Sudan. She said the South African military could offer assistance but did not specify what form it would take.

SANDF head of corporate communications Siphiwe Dlamini told the paper South Africans were already part of the UN mission in Darfur adding the AU meeting would have to take decisions on how to further the peace process in the East African country.

In the DRC a SANDF sniper racked up what is considered by experts to be one of the longest successful kill shots and the home-grown Rooivalk combat support helicopter proved to be too much for the M23 rebel group, which has long been a thorn in the side of FARDC (DRC government forces) and the UN Mission in that country.

A single successful sortie by a pair of 16 Squadron Rooivalks is viewed by military observers as the turning point that led to the M23 retreating. It also marked the Rooivalk’s first ever combat since the helicopter entered service with the SA Air Force.

While the SANDF has yet to officially comment on the more than two kilometre shot by the South African sniper deployed as part of the FIB, military watchers said it was the sixth longest confirmed successful sniper shot in military history.

Equipment-wise, the SA Army will be breathing much easier now that all the paperwork is finally completed and Denel Land Systems can start production of its long-awaited replacement for the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle: the Badger.

The first of 238 Badgers will be delivered to the landward arm of service in 2015 with the final vehicle’s delivery date currently set for 2022. Sadly, the delay in finalisation of the production contract has meant a drop of 56 in the number of Badgers to be built.

The South African Navy (SAN) frigate SAS Isandlwana returned to Cape Town on Tuesday morning, after a difficult rescue mission for distressed yachts in the Cape-to-Rio race.

Setting set sail for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from Cape Town harbour on Saturday afternoon the 36 yacht strong fleet was caught in a massive storm. At least two yachts issued distress calls with another three experiencing problems, including one involving a fire on board. Altogether nine yachts experienced difficulties and were forced to return to shore.

The fleet were approximately 120 nautical miles north-north-west of Cape Town on Sunday January 5 when the yacht Ava transmitted an “Emergency Position Indicating Beacon” at 16h28. Another yacht, Bille, transmitted a “Mayday” using a satellite phone at 16h45. Bille indicated that she had been demasted, resulting in serious injuries and the death of one crew member.

South African defence company Rippel Effect Systems has landed an order for its IGS-4S targeting and sighting system in Colombia.

According to the Colombian defence force website that country’s armed forces have opted for the Rippel Effect IGS-4S for its EE-9 Cascavel armoured combat vehicles.

This follows the Colombian Army Armour Directorate’s drive to improve the capabilities of its combat vehicles. Rippel Effect is a well-known 40mm weapon system supplier, including innovative sighting systems for these weapons. According to chief executive, Dr Fritz Visser, the IGS-4S (licensed from South African firm Vision 24 Observation Systems) is a new product Rippel has successfully brought to market within 18 months.

“It is a cost-effective high-tech solution for defence forces wishing to modernise older military vehicles and extend the useful life of equipment,” Visser said.

According to the Colombian website, 53 vehicles will initially be modernised with the targeting technology “affording efficient assistance to frontline units, whose task is to safeguard national sovereignty”.

The model selected by Colombia is the IGS-4S compact video sighting system can be utilised in conjunction with various vehicle-mounted weapons in calibres ranging from 7,62mm to 125mm. The system provides the operator with a 24/7 below-armour observation and ranging capability and to fire the weapon in all weather conditions, low visibility and darkness.

Rippel Effect said the IGS-4S accommodates multiple sensors tailored to suit user requirements and weapon choice. As a single system it is pre-programmed with ballistic aiming marks for any weapon and the various types of ammunition for the selected weapon.

According to the website (in Spanish), the IGS-4S has the additional ability to range distance to target. It has a laser rangefinder, day camera, uncooled thermal imaging and multi-function screen, which displays aim points and system parameters, as well as controls for the thermal camera.

The system is optimised for installation in small vehicles where space is of prime consideration. It requires only minimal modification for installation. Designed to accommodate multiple sensors, the IGS-4S selected by Colombia incorporates the modern pre-programmed ballistic calculation system for the 90mm cannon of the EE-9 Cascavel.

Rippel Effect Systems is the OEM for the successful XRGL40 extended range 40mm multi-shot grenade launcher now exported to numerous countries around the world. Designed as a true multi-role weapon system, it combines a modern weapon weighing less than 5kg with the GR40 smart multi-velocity sight, enabling the individual soldier to engage a variety of targets in different operational theatres at ranges up to 800m. The lightweight, compact GR40 electronic programmable sight allows the soldier to fire 40mm ammunition with different ballistic profiles from the same weapon - both 40x46mm low-velocity and 40x51mm medium-velocity grenades and also the latest less-lethal rounds.

DefenceWeb recently reported on Rippel Effect’s agreement with German company Diehl Defence to jointly market the Rippel Effect 40mm grenade launchers. Diehl and Rippel Effect Systems (RES) will qualify Diehl’s 40mm medium-velocity ammunition for Rippel Effect’s XRGL40 and UBL40 grenade launchers, according to Diehl Defence

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is not about to let go of the services of its almost 30 year old assault rifles R4 and R5 following the force's decision to spend about R30 million on the maintenance, repair and modification of its old stock.

Denel Land Systems’ (DLS) Mechem division is successfully marketing the latest version of its highly regarded Casspir mine-protected vehicle, the Casspir NG2000 series wide-body ambulance. As its description says, this has a notably wider body than standard Casspirs, including previous Casspir ambulance vehicles. The design of a dedicated operational wide-body ambulance variant started in 2011 and development was completed last year.

Angola and the United Nations (UN) have ordered the new ambulance vehicle,” reports DLS Mechem senior manager: mine-protected vehicles Jack Geldenhuys. “An East African country has shown interest in the specific type of vehicle. The UN will use them to support Amisom in Somalia.” (Amisom stands for the African Union Mission in Somalia, which exists to stabilise that country and support and protect the Somali transi- tional government.)

The wide-body ambulance is part of the NG2000 series family of vehicles, the other main versions being the infantry vehicle, the command and control vehicle and the recovery vehicle. To complement them and to sustain operational logistical requirements, special cargo carrying and water and fuel variants are available. Very specialised versions can also be supplied, such as the improvised explosive device/land mine disposal vehicle. All these have standard width bodies, with the exception that the company can supply a wide body version of the command and control vehicle.

The South African Army is investigating the merits of force-on-force training at the tactical level. The military last September awarded SAAB Systems Grintek (SSG) a R1.89 million six months contract to lease live simulation equipment for force-on force training.
Simulation can be broadly categorised into three specialist areas: constructive simulation, virtual simulation and live simulation. The South African National Defence Force has been using constructive and virtual simulation as training enhancers for over a decade.

The SANDF is now broadening the scope of simulation as a training and mission readiness enhancer by investigating the live simulation domain down to the individual soldier level. The Force-on-Force simulation project is a feasibility study on the potential use of live simulation as a training enhancer in the SANDF. The end goal of the study is to determine if live simulation is requirement in the SANDF training environment and if so, to determine the SANDF-specific requirements of a live simulation system.

The consultative draft of the 2012 Defence Review states government will support “niche capability areas in which the South African defence and security industry has a demonstrable edge or potential to gain such edge.” Among these are precision guided weapons, fire direction systems and unmanned systems, the document says.

It adds the focus of national support will be on exclusive local sourcing, insofar as practicable, based on military priorities. This includes: support of equipment, systems and weapons and the related training systems and facilities; manufacture of critical munitions; manufacture of critical, specialised batteries and other energy sources; manufacture of critical and high-rate-of-use spares and other stores; and, system integration, to allow optimisation of equipment and systems for specific Defence Force requirements; and to minimise political/strategic risk. In addition, the focus will include modernisation and upgrading of equipment and systems to extend service lives; development of specific critical equipment and systems; development of specific optimised equipment and systems; and sustained manufacture of equipment required in large numbers or amounts.

“This will be accompanied by a focus on ensuring the commercial viability of South African defence products, particularly with an eye to their acquisition by other regional and continental armed forces, and cross-pollination of civilian and military capabilities,” the review further adds.

Furthermore, the focus of that support will be on secure communications; information technology, including data-fusion technology; intelligence gathering, analysis and evaluation technology; electronic warfare technology; rugged tactical vehicles optimised for operations in the African theatre; mine and IED detection and protection technology; long-range artillery systems; chemical, biological and radiological defence; battlefield medical care optimised for the African theatre of operations; and modelling and simulation. It adds the “aerospace sector will be considered for inclusion in this group of key sectors, if it is believed that there is real potential to develop a viable product or viable capabilities in particular niche areas.”

It may, for instance, be possible to expand South Africa’s capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial systems on the basis of existing capabilities in that field and in related fields, and on the basis of the airframe development capability resulting from UAV projects and the recently unveiled [Paramount Group/Aerosud] AHRLAC concept aircraft; develop the AHRLAC … into a viable operational system with real export potential; or to build on the Air Force’s medium to long-term requirements for combat support and medium transport helicopters to develop a local manufacturing capability and linked maintenance, repair and overhaul capability to support other helicopters in the wider region, the review reads.

In the DRC a SANDF sniper racked up what is considered by experts to be one of the longest successful kill shots and the home-grown Rooivalk combat support helicopter proved to be too much for the M23 rebel group, which has long been a thorn in the side of FARDC (DRC government forces) and the UN Mission in that country.

A single successful sortie by a pair of 16 Squadron Rooivalks is viewed by military observers as the turning point that led to the M23 retreating. It also marked the Rooivalk’s first ever combat since the helicopter entered service with the SA Air Force.

While the SANDF has yet to officially comment on the more than two kilometre shot by the South African sniper deployed as part of the FIB, military watchers said it was the sixth longest confirmed successful sniper shot in military history.

Equipment-wise, the SA Army will be breathing much easier now that all the paperwork is finally completed and Denel Land Systems can start production of its long-awaited replacement for the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle: the Badger.

The first of 238 Badgers will be delivered to the landward arm of service in 2015 with the final vehicle’s delivery date currently set for 2022. Sadly, the delay in finalisation of the production contract has meant a drop of 56 in the number of Badgers to be built.

While flying hours have been cut across the board in the SA Air Force (SAAF), this has not stopped the Gripen pilots of 2 Squadron from keeping abreast of technology developments.

After attending a CSIR Defence and Security technology seminar, squadron boss Lieutenant Colonel Musa Mbhokota decided it was time for his pilots to gain some first-hand insight into the electronic defence evaluation and research capabilities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

“This gave pilots and engineers the opportunity to discuss operational needs and how best to match these to technology know-how,” said Herman le Roux, research group leader in smart systems at the CSIR.

Domains covered during the intensive two-day technology workshop included concept air defence suppression weapons, future anti-radiation weapons, optronics countermeasures, tactical data links and radar target recognition of aircraft. The group from AFB Makhado was also given a demonstration of the Gripen mission control simulator and motion simulation. These are unique systems developed by the CSIR.

The session covered both current-day and future technology trends and changing threats. This provided the attendees with a better understanding of their own capabilities which can be implemented or adapted to continue the tasks of peace enforcement and support.

Colonel George Muller, senior staff officer at Aerospace Technology, said the session was an opportunity to discuss priority needs within the squadron – and ways to address these needs with “rigour and a growing mutual understanding of the challenges”.

“It is evident there is a need to regularly schedule work group sessions in the near future and the scope should include other operational domains within the SAAF,” Muller said.

The CSIR has already received requests from other groups in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) to schedule technical work groups with the CSIR.

“Technical work groups are important platforms because of the knowledge transfer that is possible during these sessions. It was an eye-opener for the pilots to see and learn more about the level of technical capability they have access to at the CSIR. And the level of engagement between the groups will bring great benefit as we co-create the tools and systems our defence force needs,” le Roux said.

Cybicom Atlas Defence (CAD) unveiled its Ship’s Bridge Simulator advanced concept demonstrator at a South African Navy/industry simulator symposium earlier this month.

Dave Viljoen, Managing Director of CAD, said the simulator would not replace those at the civilian South African Maritime Training Academy (Samtra), also based in Simon’s Town.

“Samtra is a ship keeping simulator with very high fidelity ship models. This is not designed for that, this is for the combat guys,” Viljoen said.

The bridge simulator developed by CAD is an advanced concept demonstrator with a number of advanced features.

The simulator includes the latest version of the CAD Compact Tactical Aid (CTA), a simplified Command and Control system. The CTA is designed to facilitate the overall control and situational awareness of Navy boats in patrol, boarding, hydrographic, mine countermeasures, marine/riverine, commando, torpedo recovery, diver support and search and rescue roles. It allows for boat movement, boat track and event reporting back to the ship or HQ concerned. Basic own force information updates can also be provided to the boat’s commander. The CTA can also be fitted with an optional proprietary Data Link, and can be LINK ZA and SANDF CNIS compatible where possible and appropriate.

A simulated Propulsion Display reflects the propulsion system parameters in real time as supplied by the Bridge Simulator ship model. The Propulsion Display can be upgraded to include the full set of Integrated Platform Management System controls.

The simulated Conning Display presents various navigation and sensor data necessary for command of the ship. The Conning Display can be customised to include a large variety of sensor information.

A bespoke, simulated Radar Display includes zoom and azimuth speed adjustment with upgradable options to import and overlay bitmap images of the terrain and geospatial data from shape files.

The simulator is driven from an instructor station using Presagis Stage as a core for the modelling. Viljoen explained this allows for powerful scenario simulation for multiple land, sea and air targets. Each platform has the effective ranges and detection probabilities for the various sensors and effectors calculated in real time.

CAD is not new to supplying the SA Navy with simulators. A submarine combat information centre (incorporating a Periscope Simulator) and engineering test bed was officially handed over to the Navy in April this year.

Captain (SAN) Chris Manig, a member of the SAN Simulation Workgroup, noted the use of simulators was gaining increased importance within the Navy. During his presentation to the symposium, Manig noted that acquisition of a Bridge Simulator had been given a high priority.

The Bridge Simulator integrates with the latest version of the Periscope Simulator, the Helicopter Flight Deck Trainer Simulator and the Helicopter Flight Simulator already developed by CAD. The major advantage of using a common tool set for multiple simulators is that terrain data and detailed models can be re-used for every simulator. When new updates or enhancements are made they are filtered through to every simulator at no additional cost.

The concept demonstrator was completed in less than three months, which includes the design and construction of the consoles and bridge controls. The intention of the demonstrator is for both the South African Navy and CAD to learn and enhance the final requirements for an integrated bridge simulator.

Both the simulated Propulsion Display and Conning Display was developed using Presagis VAPS XT, a software package marketed by Cybicom (Africa) Technologies, joint owner of Cybicom Atlas Defence with Atlas Elektronik of Germany.

The bridge simulator can be integrated with the Thales Command Team Trainer (CTT), which uses an older version of the Presagis Stage tool. The South African Navy already owns the tools (purchased during the Periscope Simulator acquisition) required to generate models and terrain data.