₦airaland Forum

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31002:turkey-orders-husky-mine-detection-vehicles&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105

Turkey has become the most recent customer to order Husky mine detection vehicles, with DCD Protected Mobility about to deliver four to the country.

DCD Protected Mobility General Manager Andrew Mears said that Turkey had expressed interest in the company’s mine detection vehicles since 2004. However, when certain other defence deals with South Africa did not go through around this time, the Husky sale was halted as a result – for example in 2007, Turkey chose Agusta’s A129 Mangusta attack helicopter over Denel’s Rooivalk partly due to political hurdles.

Now, Turkey has placed an order, with three vehicles ready to be shipped and the last one on the production line. Mears said he hoped that all four vehicles would be ready to be shipped to Turkey next week.

He said the Turks would use the vehicle on their southeastern border with Syria, Iran and Iraq, where Kurdish rebels have until recently been fighting for autonomy.

Mears was confident that further orders would be forthcoming.

Turkey will receive the Husky 2G, a two-seat variant. The addition of a second on-board operator allows the Husky driver to focus on vehicle control and situational awareness, while the second operator monitors and analyses the advanced sensor systems and the operational environment.

The Husky VMMD (Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector), previously known as the Chubby system, was developed in the 1970s for the South African Defence Force to clear roads of mines in Namibia and Angola. The system comprises of two Husky vehicles: the first acts as a Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV) (previously a Meerkat). The second vehicle (a Husky) tows a mine-detonating trailer.

The South African Army uses the Meerkat while the Husky system is being used by Canada, the USA, UK, France, Australia, Angola, Kenya, Uganda and Spain. More than 400 Huskies have been sold and as of January 2012, the Husky system had taken 7 000 hits in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no mine or improvised explosive device fatalities.

The US Army recognised the Husky vehicle design with an Innovation of the Year Award for 2010.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31001:overberg-test-range-successfully-supports-satellite-launches-from-opposite-sides-of-the-world&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107

altMore proof of South Africa’s ability and willingness to be a player in specifically the international space arena comes from Denel’s Overberg Test Range (OTR), with four specialists deployed in different parts of the world to support satellite launches.

Using locally designed and built mobile telemetry stations, the OTR teams were based in Northern French Guiana, South America and Invercargill, New Zealand.

In South America, Leon Korkie and Deon van der Hoven assembled the mobile telemetry station on site, integrated it with the French Space Agency telemetry kit and participated in qualification of the telemetry network before supporting the second launch of a VEGA launch vehicle (VVO2). OTR provided key coverage for the powered phase of the launch vehicle ascent from shortly after launch at the Guiana space Centre near Kourou until it disappeared over the northern horizon.

The second OTR mobile telemetry station was deployed and prepared by Herman Steenkamp and Nico du Plessis near Invercargill on New Zealand’s south island. After preparation, they returned to South Africa and manning of the station was entrusted to the pair who supported the VEGA launch. This time around they would support the fourth launch of the Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV4: Albert Einstein), also from Kourou in South America on an Ariane 5ES launch vehicle.

The more than 20 metric ton ATV4 was a record setting liftoff for Ariane Space. It successfully docked with the international space station on June 15.

“Apart from setting a record for Ariane Space, the launch was also a record for OTR. It was the first time two of our mobile telemetry stations successfully supported different missions on opposite sides of the world,” said Japie Venter, OTR project manager mobile telemetry stations.

OTR is part of the Denel Group, which earlier this month was given care of beleaguered local satellite company Sunspace. This follows the Department of Science and Technology’s R55 million offer to take over the company.

The State-owned defence industry conglomerate is set to take over the intellectual property and the bulk of Sunspace’s staff and operations are expected to continue at its Stellenbosch premises. Indications are a new business unit for Sunspace will be created as part of Denel Dynamics, the Denel Group’s tactical missile, precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specialist.

drag_on: @andrewza you may be right your country wanted a peaceful end.i am prepared to accept that,but pres. zuma going to libya,visiting gadaffi and touring the capital with him -while the libyan people watched as their children died -was very poor.He was( together with the others ) used as a propagander tool.That is a very weak political position.He should have been better advised to deligate it to a deputy.

He went to try and get gadaffi to give up.

drag_on: @andrewza and bcraig did you both read my post? lining up with either side is a disaster.if you side the revolution arms will flow into the subregion and destabilise it ,as obasanjo said and it happened,but that is what the people wanted.sideing with gadaffi is opposing libya because THE PEOPLE ARE LIBYA not gadaffi a dictator.The best political move is to side international law and call on an intervention force to stop the killings,cause neither side had the legitimate right to kill.That is why the west had to legitimise the benzagi government before it could arm them.As i said S.A commited political suicide and has lost libya.Because the people are libya.

SA was siding with a peace deal. We wanted both sides to come together and work it out.

patriot4: Moderator, take down the i.ps of the disturbance here. These vermines, have ntothing to do hear.

We still on topic, eltrical power can be seen has national infrastructure.

drag_on: @ bcraig oh! i am sure the libyan people today will always praise south-africa for the leadership role it played in protecting gadaffi while his troops slaughtered innocent protesters.Libya will roll out the carpet when zuma decides to visit huh?Whom do you think they will welcome Nigeria or SA?That affair was a first class political blunder by S.A.The fact is that the only true solution is an intervention force to stop the bloodshed cause both sides in the conflict were wrong according to international law. This western allies enforced their agenda in libya,but (the big but S.A. did not see) the libyan people wanted it so.

Now there a Libyan f2000 in Hezbollah hands. The west f,d up in Libya and they now it

Donian007: Tell that to my dogs. You SAns are full of yourselves. After you have been disgraced by smaller countries you talk of Zimbabwe, Angola, are you done with DRC?. DELUSION!

Do you even know how depended SADC is on SA.

Donian007: Hahaha. Laughter helps the soul. Hmm, so SA can decide for Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, DRC!

Well we could real hurt there economy, but we don’t need to. We work to a common goal.

BCraig: Obviously the SANDF is not the SADF because post-apartheid South Africa has other priorities. Still, the SANDF remains powerful.

correct to commie trying to invade us, we have down sized in size because well all of SADC is our ally

Donian007: Don't be ridiculous andrewza, did we colonise Niger, Mali, Cote Ivoire, Chad, Cameroun? Did we orchestrate their problems?. All of them will continue being independent slaves and beggers to Britain and France. If you are vast you'll know that Nigeria has moved to reshape her destiny hence can no longer be pulled by the nose. Britain knows that for sure we've shown them our middle-fingers, the USA thought they can play the game better than Britain so they came visiting but NIGERIA cannot be what say and want. China, Russia, India, Ukraine, North Korea saw that we are 1 sturbbon black nation that cannot be pushed over so they made us their best friends in West Africa. France saw what we did to Britain so are conscious not to let us influence Francophone WA. Britain has tried to create a lot of gap between Nigeria and Ghana so as not to loose Ghana, for Gambia its a pity. Until all Africans resolve and understand that the West won't build Africa for us and start a powerful union to decide our destinies ourselves we want grow.

You the principal country of west Africa, the regional power. Yet your neighbours are running to forghin powers giving them access.

SA on the other hand is the biggest African developer of Africa.

all4naija: I though you said this and it implies more to me:

Correct, if the SANDF had there way they would have gone in with closer to 400 to 500 men.

all4naija: It means if the child rebels were well armed the whole SA soldiers would have been killed. So there is no balanced in the fight only to give us excuse of your men running out on ammunitions. You men have to be thoroughly prepared for such encounter before leaving. As for me, this is clear incompetence on the side of your military.

They where not there to fight the rebels alone, if the other to far larger forces had put up a fight along side the SANDF the fight could have been one.

Has i said the military wanted more

all4naija: It was clear most of the rebels killed were children and the very reason the number was high. The inability of the SA soldiers to win that fight was a big disappointment.

I think the international criminal court will have to summon SA for the indiscriminate child killing.

only resaone the rebel won was ammo, AKA we ran out. That was goverment fault since the SANDF request more ammo, Armoured transport, air born recon extra extra. They felt that the risk of a fight was low so did not send it.

Any one that bears arms against you in a conflict is a legit target

all4naija: You forgot to point out that the SA news laid claim to how a South African soldier was dumbstruck in horror to find out they have be fighting child-rebels while those still alive cried for their lives to be spared. There was a narrative incidence on that post along the line in this particular thread.

Yes after the fight they saw some where children that does not mean every rebel was a child. In SA we not used to seeing dead children so even if 10% where children it is to much.

all4naija: Y[i]ou forgot to point out that the SA news laid claim to how a South African soldier was dumbstruck in horror to find out they have be fighting rebel children while those still alive cried for their lives to be spared. There was a narrative incidence on that post along the line in this particular thread.[/i]

Yes after the fight they saw some where children that does not mean every rebel was a child. In SA we not used to seeing dead children so even if 10% where children it is to much.

all4naija: I doubt that photo is coming from SA. The background and trees don't look like SA's to me.

it is called sarcasm

all4naija: Yes, it both. It is a disappointment on the side of the government as well as on the side of the military. The soldiers are well equipped only to be chased, wounded and killed by child rebel recruits. I don't think the government is largely to be blamed on this record-breaking failure in the history of South African military.

You focus to much on child solders i have given links showing most where adult, military trained and well armend.

patriot4: I have no time for humour.

What humor that your logic that you useing

saengine: Then the journalist made those names in the article up OR you don't know how to read.
The journalist then also found a dark South African to sit on this Gecko vehicle, since
this picture below is from the same article. This picture was actually taken in Johannesburg, not CAR.
No South African equipment was captured since the BBC or CNN don't have photos of such = Nigerian logic.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/Feeds/2013/04/02/1012347_835617.jpg/ALTERNATES/crop_630x400/1012347_835617.jpg

OneQuestion: Well, murder and rape are criminal offenses, so they will always get prosecuted by "the people". So, that is no strange.

Military law capacity is very important in maintaining discipline. "Murdering" the enemy (e.g. unlawfully shooting a prisoner of war) will typically be prosecuted by the military (because it's rules of engagement that have been broken), unless there is another crime attached to the conduct. So will the killing of civilians etc.

Sometimes people spend too much time talking about weapons and they forget to investigate whether their military structures are developed or not. Some countries have all the best weapons, but third world military structures.

Murder, treason, espionage and ra.p.e is not covered in the SANDF. This will be handled in civilian courts milltar courts handle minor crimes but mostly military specific crimes AKA AWOL, conduct unbecoming, bring the military in to disrupt extra extra

patriot4: your ennemies never said that, and if you want to refute me then use a non sa news agency.

Yes forghin media only they did not stay long in CAR. Any case the times is hardly a supporter of the ANC goverment.

If every piece of SA news is a lie then the same can be said for every piece of Nigerian news.

OneQuestion: Thank you. These are the type of things I was asking about. Military med units always have some civilians, but the main point is that they need to be staffed by a good number of military personnel, because these are the people who will travel with the army on missions. This is where training, skills transfer and research happens. What is SAMHS?

It is a branch of the SANDF

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

Donian007: HAHAHAHAHAHA, my friend sorry for letting yourself being deluded. PITY. If the people of baga, bama, gwange, hausari, maiduguri see this news they'll laugh you to scorn or tie you and hand you over to JTF for being a sympathizer or member of BH. Keep being IGNORANT. This shows you know nothing in truth about the insurgency. We know the motive when we see Aljazeera, Sahara Reporters, BBC, NYTimes on the move. MY MOTHERLAND NIGERIA WILL NEVER HOST AN AFRICOM OR DRONE BASE. Tell me why, all the hatred and maligning of The Nigerian State.

yes but you will let niger host the base, and how many french bases are there in west africa

saengine: Thats not what Seleka say . 10th time I'm posting this link

i posted a few times to

patriot4: Iam nt having this debate again, I allready gave in more than one occasion a bunch of proof your soldiers didn't perform well.

What debate this points out than even the other side things you wrong.

all4naija: Thank you for correcting that dude. He claimed there was none in CAR only to find out there were handful of them present in the battle that ensued the poorly trained SA soldiers against Child rebel recruits.

It was a big let-down on the South African military.

There is SF every where, but they where not there when the Para bats got encircled and ambushed at PK12 where the casualties where the highest. At that point they where defending the base.

It was a let down for the SA government not the SA military, military our forces achieved a lot, they where able to fight a larger force to a cease fire.

Msauza: Andrew , All4Naija is completely lost including the media. Paratroopers are not special forces, simply because these paratroopers wear purple baret does not make them special forces brigade. Paratroopers are just ordinary soldiers, the only difference is that they have been trained to jump from aircraft with parachutes, but majority of them do not perform free fall and also are trained to deploy faster than any corps.

Special Forces brigade are independent from SANDF and even though they wear the same uniform they operate completely different. To become a special force in South Africa is not a child play and many years passes by without participants making it through.

The group that was deployed in CAR is far from being the recces (Special force) and their base is located in Bloemfontein, SA and not from Limpopo. That contingent mainly composed of inexperienced young soldiers who had just passed out from their paratroopers training to receive their wings.

para bats are normal solders, they not SF but they are elite forces. Same has say army rangers in the USA.

There was a SF unit in CAR but they suffered no dead only a few wounded

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30974:african-states-join-forces-to-tackle-rising-gulf-of-guinea-piracy&catid=108:maritime-security&Itemid=233

West and central African nations have agreed to create a regional centre for coordinating the fight against a sharp rise in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea that is jeopardising the shipping of commodities in the region.

The Gulf of Guinea, which includes Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast, is a major source of oil and cocoa and increasingly metals for world markets.

Pirate attacks in the region, mainly carried out by armed Nigerian gangs, have almost doubled from last year, jacking up insurance costs, Reuters reports.

The main purpose of the new centre, to be based in Cameroon, will be intelligence gathering and research, according to an agreement signed at a summit of regional leaders in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde.

"No country can withstand the growing challenges individually. That is why we agreed to put our efforts together to end the illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea," Chad's President Idriss Deby, who chairs the Economic Community of Central African States, told a news conference.

West and Central African governments agreed to fund the centre but they also appealed to international donors and Western governments for financial assistance, a statement issued after the meeting said.

Intelligence from the centre would be shared among regional governments, whose leaders also signed a non-binding code of ethics on the prevention of maritime crime, the statement said.

Data from watchdog the International Maritime Bureau showed there had been 67 attacks in the Gulf of Guinea from January until mid-June, versus 34 in the same period last year.

International navies are not actively engaged in counter-piracy missions in the region, unlike in the waters off Somalia, the piracy hotspot on the other side of the continent.

A study by advocacy group Oceans Beyond Piracy in June estimated piracy in the Gulf of Guinea cost the world economy between $740 million and $950 million last year and the cost is expected to rise in 2013.

The number of attacks in Somalia has fallen markedly since 2011 thanks to tougher security aboard ships and the increased Western naval patrols.

However, piracy emanating from the Horn of Africa nation may still cost the world economy about $18 billion a year, the World Bank said in April. (Reporting by Tansa Musa and Beaugas-Orain Djoyum; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

all4naija: Special forces which failed to defeat child rebels.

SF that killed up to 800 heavily armed rebels.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31002:turkey-orders-husky-mine-detection-vehicles&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105

Turkey has become the most recent customer to order Husky mine detection vehicles, with DCD Protected Mobility about to deliver four to the country.

DCD Protected Mobility General Manager Andrew Mears said that Turkey had expressed interest in the company’s mine detection vehicles since 2004. However, when certain other defence deals with South Africa did not go through around this time, the Husky sale was halted as a result – for example in 2007, Turkey chose Agusta’s A129 Mangusta attack helicopter over Denel’s Rooivalk partly due to political hurdles.

Now, Turkey has placed an order, with three vehicles ready to be shipped and the last one on the production line. Mears said he hoped that all four vehicles would be ready to be shipped to Turkey next week.

He said the Turks would use the vehicle on their southeastern border with Syria, Iran and Iraq, where Kurdish rebels have until recently been fighting for autonomy.

Mears was confident that further orders would be forthcoming.

Turkey will receive the Husky 2G, a two-seat variant. The addition of a second on-board operator allows the Husky driver to focus on vehicle control and situational awareness, while the second operator monitors and analyses the advanced sensor systems and the operational environment.

The Husky VMMD (Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector), previously known as the Chubby system, was developed in the 1970s for the South African Defence Force to clear roads of mines in Namibia and Angola. The system comprises of two Husky vehicles: the first acts as a Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV) (previously a Meerkat). The second vehicle (a Husky) tows a mine-detonating trailer.

The South African Army uses the Meerkat while the Husky system is being used by Canada, the USA, UK, France, Australia, Angola, Kenya, Uganda and Spain. More than 400 Huskies have been sold and as of January 2012, the Husky system had taken 7 000 hits in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no mine or improvised explosive device fatalities.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30990:dcd-opens-new-manufacturing-facility&catid=7:Industry&Itemid=116

The DCD Group’s Protected Mobility division today unveiled a new R100 million facility in Isando near OR Tambo International Airport. The 36 000 square metre property includes 22 000 square metres of factory and office space.

DCD Protected Mobility General Manager Andrew Mears said that DCD in late 2011 split off the Protected Mobility division, leaving the rolling stock business at its home in Boksburg. The decision to move Protected Mobility to its own facility was “to focus this very successful defence business and reposition it for future growth.” He added that the investment in a dedicated facility is critical to strengthening DCD’s foothold in the defence and security sector.

“We have recently expanded our product line so our own space to manufacture is important,” Mears said. The division launched the Mountain Lion armoured personnel carrier, and bought the Springbuck armoured personnel carrier range from Drakensberg Truck Manufacturers (DTM). DCD Protected Mobility’s most famous product is the Husky mine clearance vehicle.

DCD Group Managing Director, Rob King said the Mountain Lion had been designed with an eye to the future, as it has four wheel steering, something militaries find useful when trying to navigate large armoured vehicles through small villages, such as in Afghanistan. “DCD took a step ahead,” he said. “It’s not often you find a product ahead of a military requirement.”

DCD Protected Mobility said it is well positioned to service the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) demand for military vehicles. “The factory will enable the group to supply the SANDF from a local base, using local skills and materials in line with government’s localisation programme, as well as enhance existing exports for the US Army and Marine Corps and into Africa, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Spain and Turkey.”

King said DCD’s focus in the defence arena has been almost exclusively export-oriented, bringing in over R10 billion in foreign revenue over the past 15 years. “However, our focus is diversifying given the local demand expected to stem from the SANDF’s vehicle replacement programmes, which will be some of the biggest in the world in the next decade.”

“We can support Denel, Armscor, and the Department of Defence in consolidating South Africa’s defence industry by enabling SANDF contracts to be awarded to local manufacturers,” he said.

King noted that the Springbuck armoured vehicle was an ideal South African solution for the SANDF’s requirements, such as Hoefyster, Sepula and Vistula. Mears said that DCD was looking at participating in all three of these projects and would like to work with Denel on Project Hoefyster – the company could assist with assembly, for instance. On Project Vistula, which seeks a Samil replacement, DCD would work with an original equipment manufacturer as chief technical integrator. On Project Sepula, which seeks a Casspir and Mamba replacement, DCD would be able to supply key components.

It is also seeking to become a preferred South African manufacturer for foreign companies. King said that localisation is becoming the name of the game and is part of DCD Protected Mobility’s strategy. He said that if a company expects to receive large foreign orders, it has to expect to make provision for local content.

Mears said that for DCD to grow, it needed to diversify its product range and focus on BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries. He added that, “it is imperative to leverage off our success and expand into G7 partners.”

The opening ceremony was officially marked by the Secretary for Defence and Military Veterans, Dr Sam Gulube, who said that DCD Protected Mobility was an example of a proudly South African company that could meet the needs of the SANDF and contribute to socio-economic development. “A vibrant, focused and successful defence industry is a major asset to our country,” he commented. “We in the DoD will support you with local acquisitions but also through marketing.”

Gulube said that DCD Protected Mobility would play a critical role in supplying the SANDF’s needs, as well as the needs of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and Africa as a whole.

DCD Protected Mobility has sold two thousand vehicles over the last twenty years and received several awards for its endeavours. It manufactures around four vehicles per week and is currently fulfilling contracts for Nigeria, Turkey and others.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30986:pretoria-regiment-turns-100&catid=55:SANDF&Itemid=108

Pretoria Regiment will exercise its right to the Freedom of the City on Saturday, July 6, as the major event to mark its centenary.

In addition to a drill company, the regiment will also parade its current Olifant Mark 2 main battle tank as well as its predecessor, the Olifant Mark 1A and a range of historic equipment as it marches through the southern side of the Pretoria CBD en route to the City Hall.

Here the salute will be taken by the General Officer Commanding the SA Army Armour Formation, Brigadier General Chris Geldenhuys, with Tshwane metro mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa also on the podium.

Regiment Officer Commanding Lieutenant Colonel Cliff van der Westhuizen said a rehearsal of the parade would take place next Thursday and warned there might be traffic disruptions in the late afternoon.

Apart from the parade, the regiment will mark its centenary with a church service, armour shot action event as well as a cocktail function and golf day.

The Reserve Force regiment was awarded the Freedom of the City of Pretoria on its 50th anniversary – July 1, 1963. It has since exercised its right to march through the city streets with banners unfurled and bayonets drawn on its 90th anniversary.

Pretoria Regiment has its origins in the Northern Mounted Rifles, established as a Transvaal Volunteer Unit in 1903 and disbanded in accordance with provision of the SA Defence Act of 1912. It was reconstituted as the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment) as an active Citizen Force regiment on July 1, 1913.

It consisted of former members of the NMR, Pretoria companies of various volunteer regiments headquartered in Johannesburg and new recruits. No longer compulsory since 1994 the Pretoria Regiment now recruits volunteers among former Reserve and Regular Force soldiers and University of Pretoria students, men and women, black and white. By 2010 it included a Black major in the command cadre. Decentralised training enabled several members to be trained at the School of Armour in 2009, followed by promotions. Conventional training and skill tests have culminated in participation in exercises and training for peacekeeping operations as required for one of the SANDF's major roles according to a regiment history compiled by retired Brigadier General Deon Fourie.