29 décembre 2015 – ONU

Le Secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, a annoncé mardi la nomination du général Derick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi, de l'Afrique du Sud, au poste de Commandant de la force de la Mission de l'ONU pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO), selon un communiqué de presse de son porte-parole.

10 November 2015 by defenceWeb

The Public Enterprises Minister has given Denel a clean bill of health and the announcement of major multi-million Rand contracts adds further credibility but at least some suppliers of goods and services maintain they have not been paid.

According to one supplier, his company’s account with the State-owned defence industry conglomerate is currently 90 days in arrears.

“We also have no commitment as to when the outstanding amount of more than R10 million will be paid,” the disgruntled contractor said, adding there are “at least 20 other suppliers to Denel Dynamics” who find themselves in similar positions.

Last month Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown said, in reply to a Parliamentary question, that the acquisition of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa had not exhausted Denel’s cash reserves.

Natasha Mazzone, opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party shadow public enterprises minister, who first asked questions about Denel’s liquidity, said: “It appears the extent of the problem is greater than what has been reported and I have written to Minister Brown requesting her to urgently appear before the Parliamentary Public Enterprises Committee to respond to the Denel crisis”.

Among the other 20 companies who still await payment for goods and services are some that have incurred penalties on export contracts.

The newest addition to the Denel stable, now renamed Denel Vehicle Systems (DVS), this week confirmed a R900 million plus contract with NIMR in the United Arab Emirates for the development and supply of N35 (formerly RG35) mine protected vehicles.

The contract, according to a Denel statement, is one of the largest received by the now DVS and previously BAE Land Systems Land Systems South Africa in recent years and will provide work for two of the company’s major divisions for the next 24 months.

“It is one of several contracts awarded to DVS since it became part of Denel earlier this year and further confirms Denel’s leadership role in landward mobility and mine protected vehicles,” Zwelakhe Ntshepe, Denel Group Executive Business Development, said.

Other contracts Denel landward defence has recently concluded include 24 RG-31 mobile mortar platform (MMP) vehicles, assembly of driveline components for NIMR, maintenance and supply of spares for combat and military support vehicles and for components in the new Transnet electric locomotives.

11 November 2015 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

Airbus Defence and Space supplied geo-intelligence maritime security support to the South African Maritime Safety Agency (Samsa) for Exercise Oxide between the French and South African navies earlier this year.

The reports were generated from the multiple satellites operated by Airbus Defence and Space. These satellites are the optical satellites SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 complimented by the very high resolution satellites Pléiades 1A and 1B. The radar satellites are known as TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X and will soon to be complimented by a third named PAZ.

The satellite imagery was acquired on 22 and 23 September to generate a vessel detection report the same day. This allowed for the detection and identification of military vessels and civilian vessels within the open water zone during the search and rescue portion of the exercise.

Thomas Lutz, Director Sales East & Southern Africa at Airbus Defence & and Space, said the geointelligence data was provided by the Maritime Application department within GEO-Intelligence based in Toulouse, France. For the maritime environment, Airbus Defence and Space offers an Information Fusion Centre that integrates various satellite, AIS (Automatic Identification System), VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) and satellite imagery solutions for its customers.

Satellite imagery is one of the assets that Airbus Defence and Space is offering to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). In March 2012 Cassidian (as a predecessor of Airbus Defence and Space) demonstrated its Spexer 2000 radar to the SANDF on the border with Mozambique. Lutz said the radar was hugely successful as the operators were able to monitor the border on a 24/7 basis. It was also showcased in Cape Town and at Coega in Port Elizabeth, for harbour monitoring and for monitoring ships at anchor. Cassidian demonstrated the radar to the Institute for Maritime Technology (IMT), which performs defence research for the South African Ministry of Defence. The IMT did trials in False Bay.

Lutz said that feedback from the system, which was also equipped with electro-optical sensors and a laser rangefinder, was fantastic. He said a radar like the Spexer would be highly useful for border surveillance, counter-poaching and peacekeeping operations. He suggested that the SANDF could start off with some sensor towers at hotspot locations (or mobile sensor reconnaissance vehicles), and connect these with a command and control centre. As funds became available, this system could be expanded over time

Airbus is marketing the radar elsewhere in Africa and the system is operational in the Middle East on a big border security project.

The Spexer forms part of Airbus’s larger border security portfolio. The company has sold its border security services to three African countries in West and North Africa and is in discussions with a number of oil producing countries in this regard, with several acquisition projects underway. Airbus officials told defenceWeb that there is demand for border protection due to migration, terrorism, and smuggling. The migrant crisis in Europe has in particular raised the issue of border security in nations like Libya, Egypt and Algeria.

Airbus Defence and Space has executed major border security contracts in places like Romania, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and France. For instance in Saudi Arabia it has executed the largest fully integrated border security solution, covering 6 500 km of land border and 2 500 km of maritime border.

Qatar’s sea and land borders are protected by cameras and radar towers while France integrates radars, AIS, mobile platforms and other sensors to monitor its borders in Europe and overseas territories, according to Dr Thomas Jacob: Integrated Systems and VP Border Security at Airbus Defence and Space.

Jacob said that sensor-based systems require less people in the field, who are reduced to checking, intercepting threats and maintaining equipment. Sensors are able to operate in all weathers, 24 hours a day and maintain a continuous presence.

8 novembre 2015 BBC Afrique

S'exprimant lors d'une cérémonie marquant la fin de la formation d’une durée de près d’un mois, le président sud-africain Jacob Zuma a encouragé les militaires, les policiers et les civils qui en sont membres.

Le général Elia, un responsable militaire a indiqué qu’à partir de décembre prochain, ''cette force sera prête à être déployée sur le terrain''. Elle est appelée à intervenir dans les Etats membres de l'UA, "dans des circonstances graves : crimes de guerre, crimes de génocide et crimes contre l'humanité". "Nous avons beaucoup travaillé lors des entrainements, des exercices physiques. La force que nous avons est prête à être déployée sur le terrain. Ce qu’il faut faire maintenant, c’est lui apporter le soutien nécessaire", a dit le général Elia, lors de la cérémonie présidée par M. Zuma.

28 October 2015 by defenceWeb

Last week saw Austrian company Schiebel successfully undertake trials with its Camcopter S-100 unmanned air system (UAS) using the SA Navy hydrographic vessel, SAS Protea, in False Bay.

In a statement the Austrian manufacturer, which also produces a range of defence and humanitarian products, said: “The maritime environment hold unique demands for both situational awareness and timely communications. The Camcopter S-100 is an asset that meets these requirements, specifically with its ability to persistently extend the electronic ears and eyes of maritime commanders to operational ranges well beyond those on sensors on board.

“The SA Navy as well as representatives of other South African government authorities had the opportunity to see these capabilities for themselves at sea offshore Naval Base Simon’s town.

The S-100 conducted all flights from the aft deck of the SAS Protea, a Hecla class deep-ocean hydrographic survey vessel. Turbulent head and crosswinds beyond 25 knots, limited deck size as well as lack of NATO landing grid represented exceptional challenges during the trials.

The unmanned helicopter effortlessly conducted automatic take-offs and landings and all other required manoeuvres, thanks to its integrated GPS-independent positioning system, enabling pinpoint precision at a high dynamic range.

During the trials the payload chosen and demonstrated was the Selex ES SAGE Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system, allowing the Camcopter S-100 to detect, identify and geo-locate radio frequency sources while routinely operating out to 200 km or remaining on-station for periods of more than six hours.

“This system provides the right support for maritime surveillance missions or anti-piracy operations in which the SA Navy is interested,” the Vienna headquartered company said.

Camcopter is a rotary-winged vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS that needs no specially prepared area or supporting launch or recovery equipment. It can operate 24/7 with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 300km, on land and at sea.

The S-100 navigates via pre-programmed GPS waypoints or is operated with a pilot control unit. Missions are planned and controlled via a point-and-click graphic user interface. High-definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real time. Using "fly-by-wire" technology controlled by a triple-redundant flight computer, the UAS can complete its mission automatically. Its carbon fibre and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations up to a service ceiling of 18,000 foot. In its standard configuration, the Camcopter S-100 carries a 34 kg payload up to 10 hours and is powered by either Avgas or heavy fuel.

27 October 2015 by Dean Wingrin - defenceWeb

The South African Navy (SA Navy) has accepted an invitation from the Indian Navy to participate in the Indian International Fleet Review next year.

Over 100 warships and submarines from 60 countries are expected to take part in the naval event which will be held at Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on February 6, 2016. This city, on the Indian east coast, is headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

The South African and Indian navies have a close relationship, with both services being members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) as well as being partners, together with Brazil, in the IBSAMAR series of biennial naval exercises that takes place along the South African coast.

The International Fleet Review is being hosted by India to build better relationships with other nations. This will be the first time India will host an International Fleet Review, with all previous reviews having the status of Presidential Fleet Review.

An Indian Ministry of Defence spokesperson said “a Naval Fleet Review is a long-standing tradition of navies world-over. The Review was conceived as a show of naval might and readiness for battle. In India, thus far, 10 Reviews have been held, with the first in 1953 and the latest in 2011. The Review aims at assuring the country of the Indian Navy’s preparedness, high moral and discipline.”

Whilst the SAN has still to confirm the actual vessel that will make the 9,000 km (4,900 nm) voyage to the Indian sub-continent, it is likely the honour will fall to the frigate SAS Spioenkop (F147). Spioenkop is no stranger to Asia, having conducted a three month, six-country visit to the Far East, including China, during 2008.

Expected to depart Naval Base Simon’s Town on January 16, the frigate will transit to India via Mauritius and will participate in naval exercises with the Indian Navy. The two to three month expedition will return to South Africa via Sri Lanka and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam).

Other planned activities surrounding the Review at Visakhapatnam include an International Maritime Conference and an Exhibition on Naval Systems. It has not yet been confirmed if the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Mosuwa Hlongwane, will join the other Navy Chiefs attending the review.

26-10-2015 Noël Ndong - adiac-congo.com

La France et l’Afrique du Sud vont signer très prochainement un accord inter-gouvernemental qui prévoit des patrouilles maritimes communes dans le sud de l’océan Indien.

Il s’agit  de lutter contre la pêche illégale dans leurs Zones économiques exclusives (ZEE) respectives. Les moyens maritimes de l’Afrique du Sud consacrés à la surveillance de la pêche dans la ZEE sont insuffisants. Ce qui ne permet pas la surveillance de la pêche dans les ZEE, notamment celles voisines avec la France. Les deux pays partagent un intérêt commun pour la protection des ressources halieutiques.

L’accord devrait être signé d’ici la fin de l’année. Il sera similaire à celui conclu entre la France et l’Australie en 2011. Il permet des patrouilles communes qui font respecter les lois dans les ZEE et mers territoriales des deux pays. Il permet l’échange de personnel nécessaire pour faire appliquer les lois. Pour qu’un bâtiment de la marine nationale puisse faire respecter les lois sud-africaines dans la ZEE de ce pays, il embarquera un officier sud-africain, et vice versa.

Les bâtiments d’un pays pourront poursuivre, visiter et saisir les navires en infraction, sous couvert de l’officier de l’autre pays. Depuis que l’accord franco-australien est en place, la surveillance des ZEE des deux pays s’est accrue. Aucun navire n’a été surpris en action de pêche illégale. Les scientifiques ont constaté que la population de poissons augmentait.

13 October 2015 by defenceWeb

Local surveillance company Desert Wolf has shipped the first five of its Red Roman WiFi communication trailers to Ethiopia. A total of 25 systems will be deployed on behalf of an international organisation.

Hennie Kieser, Managing Director of Desert Wolf, told defenceWeb that the first five trailers were ordered on 3 July. Total project cost is around R7 million. They are being delivered in batches of five as five can be fitted into a single 40 foot shipping container.

Desert Wolf is equipping the Red Roman trailers with masts, batteries etc. while the communications equipment will be installed by the customer with a team of Desert Wolf going to Addis Ababa to support the customer.

Kieser said the first five trailers will arrive in Addis Ababa in two weeks’ time.

The Red Roman trailer accommodates electronic equipment in a vibration damped 19 inch rack mount, with cooling by either forced air flow with DC fans or an air conditioner. It comes with a solar power system and a 2 kW petrol generator with a battery backup. The surveillance mast tilts for easy sensor attachment. Desert Wolf said the system is ideal for small to medium surveillance systems and can accommodate a 1.8 metre satellite dish.

Desert Wolf stainless steel trailers are in use with the South African Police service and have been bought by oil companies, municipalities, airports, research institutions, the South African National Defence Force, British Defence Force and United Nations amongst many others. In addition to trailers, Desert Wolf offers trailer manufacturing and sales licenses.

07 October 2015 by defenceWeb

Alaris Antennas (formerly Poynting Defence & Specialised), which designs and manufactures specialised broadband antennas as well as other related radio frequency products, has recorded healthy growth over the last year, increasing revenue by 15% to R88.4 million.

The company, part of Alaris Holdings, reported that profit after tax for 2015 increased by 29% from R16.2 million in 2014 to R20.9 million.

“Alaris Antennas continued to be a leader in product innovation, adding 155 new products to its portfolio compared to 52 in 2014,” the company said. “Further investment during this financial year included growth in headcount from 77 to 87, moving from its old premises in Wynberg into a far more fit for purpose set of buildings in Centurion, investing into a new spray booth facility and upgrading the ERP [Enterprise Resource Planning] system. This has set the platform for further growth in the future.”

Alaris Antennas has consistently grown turnover and profits since its establishment in 2005 with operational earnings before interest and tax growing with a cumulative annual growth rate of more than 25% over the past 10 years. Growth is derived from the addition of new and innovative products, adding new system houses, distributors and agents, diversifying territories and entering into new market segments.

“The business has invested in capacity to enable growth that should be reflected in future results and continues to build its confirmed future order book and pipeline that extends well into the next financial year,” noted Alaris CEO Juergen Dresel.

Alaris recently abandoned its bid for Antenna Research Associates (ARA) in the United States, after the business failed to meet a number of conditions prior to the takeover.

Alaris Antennas designs and manufactures specialised wideband antennas and other related radio frequency (RF) products. These products sell in the Electronic Warfare (EW), frequency spectrum monitoring, test and measurement, communication and other specialised markets and find application in the system integration, frequency spectrum regulation and homeland security market space.

Some of the applications for the Alaris Antenna’s product range:

Communication: Antennas designed with receive and transmit capabilities, typically geared towards field communications and applicable to both traditional HF/VHF and UHF communications as well as modern data network deployments. These antennas support a number of operational deployments including vehicle, handheld and fixed platforms.

Jamming Antennas: These high power antennas are used to prevent unauthorised communications from functioning by facilitating localised domination of the electromagnetic spectrum. Typically these antennas are wide band in nature, with very good impedance matching.

Counter-RCIED: A special case of jamming antennas, these are typically deployed specifically to counter the threat of Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIEDs). The focus is on man and vehicle deployments with a strong move towards radiator co-localisation and wide band performance.

Monitoring: Antennas specifically designed with the intent to detect signals. These antennas are typically deployed on vehicle and fixed platforms.

Direction finding: A class of monitoring antennas designed with the specialised capability of being able to determine the direction of arrival of incoming signals. These antennas are widely diverse, deployed across the spectrum from large scale fixed sites to compact man-portable scenarios, airborne platforms and even submarines.

A Desert Wolf Skunk UAV.

07 October 2015 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

Local surveillance company Desert Wolf is adding grenades to its Skunk riot control unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is currently being manufactured with four paintball markers.

Hennie Kieser, Director of Desert Wolf, told defenceWeb that the non-lethal grenades are being supplied by a company in South America and will be available in a number of different formats, including smoke, flash-bang, tear gas etc. Up to 48 grenades can be carried by the upgraded Skunk GL UAV.

The grenades will be dropped over crowds and descend via parachute, minimising collateral damage on the ground and allowing the smoke to spread from above.

The South American company commissioned development of the grenade version of the Skunk, which will be marketed jointly by both it and Desert Wolf.

Kieser said he expected test flights and customer acceptance of the grenade version by the end of December. Photos and videos of the Skunk GL will be made available in the next 6-8 weeks.

Desert Wolf is currently manufacturing its Skunk UAV in Europe. This version is fitted with four paintball markers able to fire a variety of different rounds, from hard plastic to pepper spray. Manufacturing is underway for seven different customers, which have ordered some 400 airframes. Two batches of aircraft have already been shipped and pilots trained. These seven orders should be completed by year-end, Kieser said.

The skunk riot control UAV is being developed into a whole family that can be used for a variety of duties, such as search and rescue, surveillance, LIDAR scanning and lifeguard.

The Skunk multirotor, armed with four paintball markers, cameras and a loudhailer, was unveiled at the IFSEC security exhibition in Johannesburg in May last year, where it generated a considerable amount of interest both locally and abroad.

The Skunk has evolved into the Skunk II. It features two high definition colour cameras, a thermal camera for night operations, spot/strobe lights, eye-safe pulsating lasers, speakers, police sirens and flashing blue lights and four paintball markers.

05 October 2015 by defenceWeb

The CSIR is going to implement a radar and electronic warfare transformative enterprise development (REWTED) programme with the aim of transforming and developing black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the radar and electronic warfare (REW) sector of the defence industry.

According to the scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisation the strategic intent of the programme is to support the National Development Programme's goals and drive socio-economic transformation towards a knowledge based economy.

The REWTED programme can be seen as an extension of the Department of Defence's broad socio-economic transformation mandate to transform South Africa's defence sector. Its focus will be transformation of the South African REW sector by supporting previously marginalised black-owned SMMEs.

The REW Industry Support Strategy Implementation Plan will accelerate and support industry development for economic growth and further enable the REW black-owned SMMEs to actively participate in the national and regional defence economy a CSIR statement said. The REWTED programme will consist of two parallel tracks - technology development and enterprise development, concentrating on the long-term sustainability of the business.

Technology development will be based on the technology driven innovation model, which entails the development of new REW core technologies as well as the generation and creation of new knowledge using scientific breakthroughs. The model also supports strategic management of innovation as full innovation processes, emphasising that all innovation stems from scientific breakthroughs. The development of new technology should also include finding viable technology commercialisation opportunities.

No timeline has been given and further information can be obtained from pnaidoo1@csir.co.za.

02 October 2015 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

The South African Navy’s frigate SAS Amatola will be ready to deploy operationally in the first quarter of 2016 after being refitted with her weapons. She recently underwent an extensive refurbishment at Southern African Shipyards in Durban and is currently undergoing the weapons refit in Simon’s Town.

The 121 metre long, 3 700 ton vessel was handed back to the Navy at Salisbury Island Naval Station on 31 July and sailed for Simon’s Town on 1 August after the R400 million overhaul, which took place between March 2014 and July 2015.

Prasheen Maharaj, CEO of Southern African Shipyards, said the refit involved the replacement of both main propulsion units, the refurbishment of the gas turbines, the complete blast and re-coating of the ship and the refurbishment of accommodation, bridge, engine control room, galley, mess, helicopter deck and hangar and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Charles Maher, SAS General Manager: Marketing told defenceWeb that the refit had gone smoothly, with the only issue being the rudders, which had to be sent to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Germany for repair.

He said the Navy was extremely satisfied with the work that has been carried out look forward to similar work on future vessels being carried out in the same manner.

Commander Rachel Dulamo of the South African Navy told defenceWeb that the SAS Amatola’s refit was planned in two stages: a platform refit in Durban and a weapon system refit in Simon’s Town. The major components of the weapons system were removed before the ship let Simon’s Town for Durban and were sent for deep maintenance and refurbishment.

The ship is now in the Dock in Simon’s Town and is being fitted with installation and alignment of major weapon system components, Dulamo said. She added that the ship should be ready to deploy operationally in the first quarter of 2016 after it has gone through its safety and readiness checks.

“The Navy is happy with the work conducted by SA Shipyards,” Dulamo said.

Although the SAS Isandlwana is earmarked to be number two in line for a mid-life refit, she currently undergoing maintenance to extend her operational capability as no funding has yet been made available for refit. Maher said SAS was trying to revive the Isandlwana refit tender.

Maher said that the work done on Amatola has proved that SAS can carry out naval maintenance on an African scale and this opens the door to other African markets where naval fleets are not in the best state. He added that the Durban-based company is looking at South Africa’s neighbours and their naval forces.

Maharaj said Southern African Shipyards was now eyeing the replacement of the fleet replenishment vessel, SAS Drakensberg, but no official requirement shad been issued by Armscor.

30/09/2015 Sources : État-major des armées

Le 9 septembre 2015, la frégate Floréal des Forces armées de la zone Sud de l’océan Indien (FAZSOI) a appareillé de Port-des-Galets (île de la Réunion) pour rejoindre Richards Bay (Afrique du Sud), afin de participer à l’exercice Oxide 15 qui débutait le 14 septembre.

Au cours de l’exercice biannuel Oxide 15 avec la Marine sud-africaine, le Floréal a conduit une mission de surveillance maritime dans les zones économiques exclusives françaises et une action de coopération bilatérale au large de Richards Bay. Pour cette mission, le Floréal a embarqué la section spécialisée du Groupe d’assaut par mer (GAM) du 2ème Régiment parachutiste d’infanterie de marine (2ème RPIMa) de Pierrefonds.

Dans la continuité des précédents Oxide, le principal objectif de l’exercice consiste à favoriser la coopération et l’interopérabilité entre les forces françaises et sud-africaines, en améliorant notamment la connaissance mutuelle des capacités des forces maritimes et aériennes. Les marines française et sud-africaine coopèrent également en mettant en œuvre un protocole de soutien aux opérations de SAR (Search and Rescue – recherche et sauvetage) entre le Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) du Cap (Afrique du Sud) et le Centre régional opérationnel de surveillance et de sauvetage (CROSS) du Port (La Réunion).

Les FAZSOI garantissent la protection du territoire national et animent la coopération régionale depuis La Réunion et Mayotte. Elles constituent le point d’appui principal du théâtre « océan Indien » pour lutter contre de nouvelles menaces comme la piraterie ou l’immigration illégale, assurer la surveillance des zones économiques exclusives associées à l’ensemble des îles de la zone de responsabilité et conserver une capacité régionale d’intervention rapide.