28 June 2011 by Paramount Group Press release

Marauder armoured vehicle defeats 'terrorist' explosions, brick walls and wild lions in Top Gear test

'TOP GEAR' the BBC's leading motoring show has tested the ‘world’s most unstoppable vehicle' after it put a Paramount Group MARAUDER through a series of challenges.

More than 5 million UK viewers saw the Marauder, which is designed and built by the Paramount company of South Africa, take on and pass all the tests it was set by presenter Richard Hammond in the urban jungles of Johannesburg, South Africa.

South Africa is world renowned for producing some of the best protected and most technologically innovative armoured vehicles in the world.

During the programme, which was broadcast in the UK on Sunday 26th June, the Marauder flattened cars, smashed through brick walls and defied attacks by hungry lions in the South African bush.

In the final test a Marauder and a Hummer were blown up in explosions simulating the roadside bombs faced daily in conflict zones. The Hummer was totally destroyed, but the Marauder was barely damaged and drove away from the explosion and into the South African sunset.

Richard Hammond also took Marauder on an entertaining tour of Johannesburg and almost brought South Africa’s largest city to a complete standstill.

Stunned onlookers watched in awe as the bright red Marauder roared through the crowded streets, exciting pedestrians and totally dominating the usually busy roads.

Hammond even managed to order a burger while driving through a McDonald's, although he did demolish a number of security bollards in the process.

Ivor Ichikowitz, the Executive Chairman of the Paramount Group, said: "The Marauder is one of the toughest vehicles in the world. We challenged Richard Hammond to throw anything he wanted at it and Marauder withstood it all.

"Despite the fun working with Top Gear, it is important to remember soldier protection is a very serious issue for armies worldwide. We are talking about saving lives. With this type of technology available and the ever present threat of IED's there really is no excuse for governments not to provide the best protected vehicles for their defence forces.

"Personnel can be assured that when travelling in Marauder they are in one of the world’s toughest vehicles. South Africa, and Paramount Group in particular, has a rich tradition of providing some of the most innovative and best protected vehicles in the world and Marauder is one such vehicle."

Marauder is a high-mobility armoured personnel carrier with outstanding levels of protection against mines, IEDs and ballistic attack. It can carry up to 10 fully armed troops and can be configured in a number of variants depending on the role. It is extremely flexible and is a true infantry workhorse.

Marauder - 10 things you didn’t know!

1. Marauder is actually three vehicles in one. It can be produced as an infantry patrol vehicle, a command centre and even an ambulance!

2. With long range fuel tanks added it can travel an extra 500km – making it ideal for long range patrols.

3. Marauder can survive explosions of 14kg of TNT under its wheels and 7kg under its hull – making it one of the world’s toughest vehicles.

4. Whether sitting in the boiling heat of +55°C or the freezing temperatures of -32°C, occupants can stay cool or warm with the ultra modern climate control system.

5. Marauder can literally swim! It has a fording depth of half the vehicle – making it ideal for rugged and wet terrain.

6. It has special ‘run flat’ tyre inserts which means that the tyres can be perforated by 12.7mm bullet rounds and still keep rolling for at least another 50km!

7. Marauder weighs around 15 tons but can be loaded up to 18 tons when fully laden!

8. The vehicle can be fitted with an IED jammer – making it the enemy of terrorists worldwide.

9. Anti blast seats protect troops from roadside bombs and rocket attack – keeping them safe from the huge force of explosions, without just protecting the vehicle.

10. With a maximum speed of 120Km/hr the Marauder is no slow coach. Marauder armoured vehicle defeats ‘terrorist’ explosions, brick walls and wild lions in Top Gear test

06/28/2011 By Matthias Gebauer - spiegel.de

NATO is running out of munitions to use in the Libya conflict. Now the German government is willing to supply weapons to its allies, despite its fundamental opposition to the war, SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned. The defense minister has already approved a NATO request. 

Germany's abstention from the Security Council vote authorizing the use of force against Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi earned it criticism from its international partners. But now the German government, despite its fundamental unwillingness to get involved in the conflict, wants to help its NATO allies attack Gadhafi's troops.

Le patrouilleur Bir Anzaran, du type OPV70

crédits : RAIDCO MARINE

28/06/2011 MER et MARINE

Alors que le Bir Anzarane a été livré le 23 juin, Raidco Marine est en discussion avec la marine marocaine sur un nouveau projet de patrouilleurs hauturiers. Il ne s'agit pas d'OPV45 mais bien d'une amélioration de l'OPV70 qui a été réalisé par le chantier STX de Lorient. Les principaux changements portent sur la mise en oeuvre de d'embarcations rapides pour des équipes de visite ou des forces spéciales. Le système proposé par Raidco permettrait une mise à l'eau ou une récupération en moins de trois minutes ! En dehors de ce système, on notera que l'entreprise dispose également d'une solution pour les embarcations, puisqu'elle commercialise le nouveau produit développé par le chantier quimpérois Ufast. Ce dernier a réalisé et testé avec succès le démonstrateur de l'UFR 9.30, une embarcation de 9.3 mètres de long en composite carbone-kevlar. Disposant de deux moteurs de 400 cv, il peut dépasser la vitesse de 45 noeuds et affiche une autonomie de 250 nautiques. Armée par un équipage de 4 hommes, cette embarcation peut transporter 8 commandos.


L'UFR 9.30 (© : UFAST)

Following concerns expressed by service chiefs, defence secretary Liam Fox says 'we may have to reprioritise some of our assets'

27 June 2011 by Nick Hopkins-  guardian.co.uk

An extended British military involvement in Libya would require the armed forces to review their other commitments, Liam Fox has said. Photograph: Max Nash/PA

The defence secretary, Liam Fox, has admitted for the first time that an extended British military involvement in Libya would require the armed forces to review their other commitments.

Fox also warned service chiefs who have spoken publicly about their concerns, saying they should be careful because "people's lives are at stake".

Taking questions after delivering a speech on defence reform in London, Fox said: "We must be very careful, those of us that have authority in defence, when discussing the sustainability of the mission. People's lives are at stake.

"There can only be one message that goes out to Libya. We have the military capability, the political resolve and the legal authority to see through what we started.

"We may have to reprioritise some of our assets – but let us make it clear that there can only be one message to Libya. We will continue our mission until it succeeds."

The defence secretary's remarks follow concerns raised by the First Sea Lord, Sir Mark Stanhope, and senior officials in the RAF about the way in which the campaign in Libya is stretching their forces.

Stanhope was slapped down for saying what Fox acknowledged in his speech – that the service will need to rethink its priorities in the autumn if the Libya campaign is ongoing.

Fox also said more about plans to restructure the Ministry of Defence, explaining that "targets would be set for service chiefs" to get rid of senior officers because their numbers have become "top heavy".

27.06.2011 Source bbc.co.uk/

Jun 27, 2011 ASDNews Source : Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

Washington - The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Thursday of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of eight AN/MPQ-64F1 SENTINEL Radars, and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $67 million.

The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale 8 AN/MPQ-64F1 SENTINEL Radars, 8 AN/VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) Vehicular Dual Long-Range System Radios, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Sentinel Software, 8 SENTINEL M1152 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)s, HMMWV support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $67 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by supporting Morocco's legitimate need for its own self-defense. Morocco is one of the most stable and pro-Western of the Arab states, and the U.S. remains committed to a long-term relationship with Morocco.

The Government of Morocco is modernizing its armed forces and expanding its air defense architecture to counter threats posed by air attack. The proposed sale of SENTINEL Radars will greatly enhance Morocco's interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO nations, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world.

The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

27 juin 2011 par Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2, analyse)

Cela fait bientôt deux ans que l’UE tente d’échafauder une stratégie pour renforcer les capacités maritimes des pays de l’est africain et des pays bordant l’Océan indien. Plusieurs papiers d’option ont été rédigés, de façon successive. Mais aucune n’a véritablement débouché. Ce n’est pas d’avoir réfléchi, planifié, retravaillé… Mais il se trouve toujours une bonne raison pour ne pas aller plus loin repousser la décision à plus tard. Les ambassadeurs du COPS – le comité politique et de sécurité de l’UE – ont ainsi de nouveau planché sur le sujet en mai. Un nouveau papier d’option leur avait été présenté. Ils ont décidé de continuer… le travail en retenant deux hypothèses essentiellement.

Huit options

Les huit options avaient été réparties en deux objectifs : le contrôle des côtes et zones maritimes  d’un coté, le renforcement des capacités judiciaires et pénitentiaires, de l’autre.

Le premier objectif (dénommé A) vise à renforcer les capacités des Etats riverains pour leur permettre d’avoir un meilleur contrôle de leur zone maritime : renforcement des capacités maritimes dans les pays riverains (sauf Somalie) permettant de prendre le contrôle des eaux territoriales jusqu’à 12 milles et, dans une seconde étape, autour de la zone économique exclusive (ZEE) (option A1) ; renforcement des capacités de surveillance des côtes en Somalie, à terre, avec une police « cotière » (option A2) ; renforcement des capacités de maintien de l’ordre, pour faire face à la violence des actions pirates, dans les pays ayant déjà certaines capacités maritimes (option A3) ; mission d’assistance et de conseil pour la planification et la programmation des gardes cotes et navires (option A4). NB : le raffinement de ces différentes options vise, comme on le constate, à éviter de doter la Somalie de forces marines qui pourraient très facilement être reconverties en forces pirates (comme cela a déjà été dans le passé !).

Le second objectif (dénommé B) vise à renforcer la capacité judiciaire et l’Etat de droit des pays concernés, en liaison étroite avec les programmes déjà développés par l’UNODC (le bureau des nations-unies pour la lutte contre la criminalité et les drogues) : lutte locale contre la criminalité (option B1), création de tribunaux, l’un au Puntland, l’autre Somaliland avec la mise en place d’une mission PSDC d’assistance à la justice de Somalie (option B2), les prisons (option B3), développement d’une cour régionale, la formation de la police et des douanes et création d’une équipe conjointe investigation (option B4).

La suite : préparer un concept

On commence à avancer… Les ambassadeurs ont demandé aux experts en planification de l’UE de préparer un concept de gestion de crises (CMC), le premier document préalable au lancement d’une mission de la PeSDC sur deux sujets principaux. Premièrement, dans les pays riverains (sauf Somalie), le contrôle renforcé des eaux territoriales et (dans une seconde étape) de la zone économique exclusive des Etats riverains. Deuxièmement, en Somalie, le contrôle terrestre des côtes somaliennes, par exemple, par le développement d’une police côtière. Soit en gros les options A1 et A2. Du coté de la justice et l’Etat de droit, les ambassadeurs ont, en revanche, calé et demandé… à ce que le travail soit poursuivi (notamment en lien avec l’UNODC) !

Finir les ronds de jambes et les discussions en chambres

(commentaire) Tout cela est-il très sérieux et à la hauteur des enjeux en cours ? Il est certes intéressant de parler de stratégie, de soulever tel ou tel problème, de peaufiner telle ou telle option… Mais, pendant ce temps, la piraterie se développe. L’autonomie financière – et donc les capacités – des forbans des mers se renforce. Et également leur légitimité. Si on additionne le gain des rançons, on arriverait à un chiffre d’affaires qui avoisine le produit intérieur brut (PIB) du Puntland…

Depuis trois ans, il existe un consensus général des politiques (européens comme africains), des militaires (UE, OTAN, USA, Russie…), de l’industrie maritime (armateurs, propriétaires…) pour dire que la solution à la piraterie au large de la Somalie sera à terre. C’est-à-dire essentiellement dans le renforcement des capacités des Etats riverains de l’Océan indien et le rétablissement de l’Etat de droit en Somalie. Certes cela coûte un peu en termes de financement (quelques millions d’euros !) ou de responsabilité politique (il n’est pas sûr que cela marche à 100%). Et cela nécessite aussi de choisir. Ce qui comporte aussi un risque : celui de voir ce choix critiqué. Mais qu’importe.

Il paraît urgent, maintenant, d’arrêter de tergiverser — quitte à tenter une expérience pilote sur un ou deux  pays tests —, et de démarrer. Car il faudra encore plusieurs années avant que les résultats escomptés produisent leurs effets. Il serait donc temps aujourd’hui que les Européens arrêtent de « jacasse », décident et ne mettent pas deux ans avant d’approuver le lancement de cette nouvelle mission…

Lire également :

• Atalanta pourrait étendre ses missions au renforcement des capacités maritimes
• Les missions de la PeSDC en projet ou dans les cartons
• Former les gardes-côtes au Yemen et à Djibouti : une nouvelle mission PeSDC ?
• Une mission « justice » de la PeSDC dans l’Océan indien ?

25.06.2011 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

La France suit de près l'évolution de la situation en Côte d'Ivoire et, en particulier, les projets de création d'une nouvelle armée. Floriège des déclarations et visites récentes.

Nicolas Sarkozy a précisé, vendredi à Bruxelles, que la France ne ne devrait plus conserver à terme en Côte d'Ivoire qu'un contingent de 200 à 250 soldats.

A l'occasion de l'investiture du nouveau président ivoirien Alassane Ouattara, le mois dernier, le chef de l'Etat avait annoncé que la France maintiendrait un contingent sur le sol ivoirien, mais en nombre réduit: "Nous garderons toujours des forces militaires ici pour assurer la protection de nos ressortissants". La force Licorne compte actuellement quelque 900 hommes après en avoir atteint 1 700 au plus fort de la crise qui a abouti à l'arrestation de l'ex-président ivoirien Laurent Gbagbo et à l'arrivée au pouvoir d'Alassane Ouattara. Le nouveau président ivoirien a réclamé le maintien des troupes françaises de l'opération Licorne et la réactivation de la base du 43e Bataillon d'infanterie de marine (BIMa), dissous en juin 2009.

Le colonel Marc Paitier (voir sa photo ci-contre), ancien chef de la base de défense de Rennes, a été nommé conseiller militaire du président Ouattara. Ce Nanatais né en 1956 et qui a commandé le 43e RI connaît déjà la Côte d'Ivoire puisqu'il a servi de 2005 à 2006 en tant qu'assistant auprès du général Elrick Irastorza, alors commandant de la force française Licorne. A lui de jouer l'interface entre les présidences ivoirienne et française.

Gérard Longuet, le ministre de la Défense, partira dimanche soir pour Abidjan où il séjournera jusqu'à mardi. Nul doute que la présence militaire française figurera en haut de l'agenda de ce déplacement qui fait suite à celui d'un militaire détaché auprès du MAE (lire ci-dessous). La visite de François Fillon du 14 juillet devrait aussi figurer à l'agenda.

Le général Clément-Bollée, ancien patron de la Force Licorne et actuellement, directeur de la coopération sécurité-défense au ministère des Affaires Etrangères français, a rencontré Guillaume Soro le 21 juin pour aborder la question de la restructuration des forces armées ivoiriennes. Trois défis sécuritaires attendent le nouveau régime, selon le général français: "la réconciliation", "la démobilisation" et "la reconstruction d'un outil de sécurité et de défense".

24 June 2011 by Leon Engelbrecht defenceWeb

1.   Introduction. Mr Hakan Buskhe, the Chief Executive Officer of Saab, last week revealed that BAE Systems had transferred R24 million to a “South African consultant” through a company called Sanip (Pty) Ltd. The money was not recorded in the financial statements and was transferred without the knowledge of Saab.

The “South African consultant” was reportedly Fana Hlongwane, who was an adviser to former Minister of Defence, Mr Joe Modise.

The finding that BAE Systems effectively laundered R24 million in payments to a “South African consultant” through Sanip (Pty) Ltd is very serious and an important new development in the controversy surrounding the arms deal.

2.   Documents

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has therefore decided to make available a number of documents which shed more light on the arms deal, particularly the relationship between Sanip (Pty) Ltd and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd, which is the focus of the new revelations in Sweden.

The documents include copies of:

 • a consultancy agreement between the South African National Industrial Participation(Pty) Ltd [also referred to as Sanip (Pty) Ltd] and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on 10 September 2003;

 • a schedule of payments between Sanip (Pty) Ltd and, variously, Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Fana Hlongwane and Ngwane Aerospace (Pty) Ltd;

 • an amendment to a 09 September 2003 agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on

01 March 2005; and

 • an amendment to a 09 September 2003 agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on

23 August 2005.

The documents relate to the acquisition and offset arrangements in respect of the 26 Gripen fighter jets acquired as a result of the Strategic Defence Package signed on 03 December 1999.

I deal with each of the documents in turn below:

2.1     Document 1: Consultancy agreement between the South African National Industrial Participation (Pty) Ltd and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on 10 September 2003

The document is an agreement between South African National Industrial Participation (Pty) Ltd and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd, which was signed on 10 September 2003.

In terms of the agreement, Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd was contracted to provide “consultancy services” which include inter alia:

 • “to take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure that the Company is granted or is able to claim NIP credits from the South African Government as a result of its involvement in any NIP Project; and

 • to carry out any other associated tasks relating to the marketing and implementation of NIP projects as may be reasonably required by the Company.”

The total value of the contract, over the five-year period commencing on 01 August 2003, would have been R98 million. The fees and bonus payments in the agreement were structured as follows:

 • a payment of R8 175 000 on or about 01 August 2003;

 • a fee of R1 875 000 every quarter commencing on or about 02 September 2003;

 • a bonus of R22 500 000 upon the successful completion of “Milestone 1” (“discharge of at least investments of USD 300 000 000 and exports of USD 2 000 000 000 of NIP by April 2004”); and

 • a bonus of R30 000 000 upon the successful completion of “Milestone 3” (“discharge of at least investments of USD 2 000 000 000 and exports of USD 5 200 000 000 of NIP by April 2011”).

The agreement between Sanip (Pty) and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd however appears to have ended sometime in 2004 and was reportedly transferred to another company called Ngwane Aerospace (Pty) Ltd, of which Fana Hlongwane was the sole director.

2.2  Document 2: Schedule of payments between Sanip (Pty) Ltd and variously Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Fana Hlongwane and Ngwane Aerospace (Pty) Ltd

The document lists payments from Sanip (Pty) Ltd to, variously, Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Fana Hlongwane and Ngwane Aerospace (Pty) Ltd totalling R51,3 million between 30 April 2003 and 05 September 2005.

2.3   Document 3: Amendment to 09 September 2003 agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on 01 March 2005

We do not have a copy of the original agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd dated 09 September 2009.

However, the amendment to the agreement reveals that a retainer of GBP 250 000 is payable each quarter commencing on 01 April 2005 to a maximum of

GBP 1 000 000 for the provision of services which included, inter alia:

 • “to assist the Company and facilitate its contact with the Customer and upon request to assist the Company in face-to-face communication with the Customer; and

 • to assist the Company in producing a contact map by identifying key Customer personnel and in particular the specific decision-makers with respect to the selection of products and services of the Company referred to in this Agreement, and updating such information”.

The Company in this case is BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and the Customer is presumably the South African Government.

2.4  Document 4: Amendment to a 09 September 2003 agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd signed on 23 August 2005

We do not have a copy of the original agreement between BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd dated 09 September 2009.

However, the amendment to the agreement reveals that, in addition to the quarterly fee, a sum of US$ 8 million would be transferred to Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd for “additional work done” on “Tranche 3” of the Gripen contract.

3.   Hard Questions

The documents amount to prima facie evidence of bribery and/or corruption and raise some serious questions, given the fact that:

 • we now know, as a result of the finding by Mr Hakan Buskhe, Chief Executive Officer of Saab, that BAE Systems effectively laundered up to R24 million through Sanip (Pty) Ltd to a “South African consultant” who was reportedly Fana Hlongwane;

 • the agreements between Sanip (Pty) Ltd and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited and Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd are, variously, related to claiming NIP credits, facilitating contacts, identifying decision-makers and work related to “Tranche 3” of the Gripen deal; and

 • that at the time BAE Systems did make payments of commissions and fees related to defence transactions as evidenced by the 16 May 2011

US$ 79 000 000 settlement between the US Department of State and BAE Systems plc for an alleged 2 591 violations of laws and regulations in the United States, which included payments made in respect of securing the sale of the Gripen aircraft to South Africa.

These questions include:

 • Did Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd actually have the skill, knowledge and expertise in project identification, development, marketing and implementation in respect of the National Industrial Participation Programme?

 • Is there evidence that services were actually provided by Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd in return for the enormous fees and bonuses that were payable in terms of the various agreements?

 • Is there evidence of any “forward payments” by Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd to individuals or institutions involved in the process of decision-making?

 • Is there evidence that Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd complied with all the relevant tax laws and regulations?

We need answers to these questions.

4.   Conclusion

The Hawks are in possession of 460 boxes of documents and 4.7 million pages of documents relating to the investigation into BAE Systems.

Surely, there is a high probability that there will be evidence of a possible failure to provide services, of possible forward payments to decision-makers, and a possible failure to comply with tax laws and regulations contained in the large volumes of documents in the possession of the Hawks.

That is why we believe that the investigation into the arms deal should be re-opened by the Hawks.

I will be handing over copies of the documents to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

Media Enquiries:

David Maynier MP

Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

071 534 6398

Kelly Miller

DA Media Officer

072 226 9759

David Maynier MP is the DA's Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. A former Mason Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Maynier has previously served in a number of capacities in the DA, including as Director of Research, Director of Fundraising and, most recently, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

24 June 2011 defenceWeb

South African and US Marine forces will next month exercise jointly in Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth in the latest iteration of the American “Share Accord” exercises. Exercise Shared Accord 11 will take place in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole and Grahamstown from July 18 to August 12.

“The aim of Ex Shared Accord 11 is to provide collective training for the SANDF [South African National Defence Force] and US armed forces, building interoperability and mutual understanding between the two forces,” the SA military said in a statement this morning. All services of SANDF (SA Army, SA Air Force, SA Navy and SA Military Health Service) will be involved.

“The SA Army will exercise with elements of the US Marine contingent at 6 South African Infantry Battalion (6 SAI) in Grahamstown. Various SA Air Force and SA Navy components will be involved in exercises at sea along the southern coast,” the statement adds.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu last month said in a written answer to a Parliamentary question asked by Congress of the People Member of Parliament LJ Tolo that Shared Accord has been included in the multinational military force exercise programme for 2011/12 “and will be conducted within the allocated budget. The inclusion of Ex Shared Accord is a result of a consultation that took place between the SANDF and the specific partner premised on an existing Defence Committee Agreement.”

US naval medical personnel and the SA Military Health Service will also render medical assistance to the Kleinskool community in conjunction with the provincial Department of Health. “They will perform basic dental care, hygiene and tooth extractions, provide basic primary health care to adults and children and also provide basic refractory evaluations and dispense eyeglasses (spectacles).

“There will be veterinarian personnel from both forces working in conjunction with the SPCA in providing services to the communities of Kwa Nobuhle and Allenridge for their domesticated pets and livestock,” the statement added.

The SA Engineer Corps and US Marine Corps combat engineers will also erect “a structure at the SPCA in Uitenhage” and ensure drainage around the local community pound.

Ex Shared Accord is an annually scheduled, combined, bi-lateral US-partner nation event. Previous editions of Ex Shared Accord were hosted in Benin, Ghana, Senegal and Mozambique. Shared Accord is one of 14 annual multinational exercises the US conducts on the continent, and one of two involving South Africa, according to an Africa Command fact sheet. The other exercise is Southern Warrior, a “small unit regional training exercise tailored to specific unit and country needs to build regional cooperation. Slated for the South African winter and spring, US AFRICOM supports the deployment phase of the exercise. Shared Accord, meanwhile, “trains US and African forces to conduct peacekeeping operations in sub-Saharan Africa,” the fact sheet adds.

Last year's edition of Shared Accord took place in neighbouring Mozambique's southern Moamba province. According to the UPI news service, some 1000 US service personnel and Mozambican soldiers participated.”

Bilateral military exercises involving SA and the US are somewhat uncommon because of political attitudes in the former, but are not as rare as may be thought. A battalion of US Rangers deployed to De Brug, Bloemfontein,in July 2003 for Flintlock 2003 with the SA Army's 44 Parachute Regiment. The July, US forces returned for Exercise Medflag 2004 at Hoedpruit Air Force Base in Mpumalanga. The exercise involved some 250 US Air Force personnel conducting various evolutions including interoperability training, humanitarian and civic assistance visits, as well as a mass-casualty exercise with the SA Military Health Service and SA Air Force.

“Passage exercises” with passing and visiting US warships are more common and SA has reportedly also joined the African Partnership Station (APS), a US-led effort to improve maritime security along the African east and west coasts. APS training focuses on a broad range of areas, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue capabilities, civil engineering and logistics, and navigation.

The most visible recent visit was that of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) to Cape Town in October 2008. The Roosevelt's visit was the first by a US aircraft carrier since the 1950s and the first to Cape Town by a nuclear-powered ship since the German cargo ship the Otto Hahn in the 1970s. This as followed up in January the next year by the visit of the USS Robert G Bradley, an Oliver Hazard Perry glass guided missile frigate assigned to the APS programme, in July by the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), nameship of a class of destroyers to Durban and Simon's Town and that November by the visit of the Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN-751), also to Simon's Town.

More recently, the USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate visited Simon's Town in February this year and participated in a “joint-manoeuvring exercise” with the Heroine-class submarine SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S-102).

La FREMM marocaine sera un quasi-sistership de l'Aquitaine

crédits : DCNS

24/06/2011 MER et MARINE

La frégate multi-missions destinée à la marine royale marocaine, actuellement en construction sur le site lorientais de DCNS, s'appellera Mohammed VI, du nom de l'actuel roi du Maroc. C'est le contre-amiral Laghmaki, inspecteur général de la marine royale marocaine, qui l'a annoncé hier à Lorient lors de la cérémonie de changement de pavillon du patrouilleur hauturier Bin Anzarane. La frégate Mohammed VI devrait être mise à l'eau en septembre prochain. Elle est le sister-ship des FREMM françaises, dont la tête de série, l'Aquitaine, est actuellement en achèvement.

Long de 142 mètres pour un déplacement de 6000 tonnes en charge, le bâtiment marocain mettra en oeuvre des missiles Exocet antinavire MM40 Block3, des missiles surface-air Aster 15, une tourelle de 76mm, des torpilles MU90 et un hélicoptères. Contrairement à ses homologues français, il ne disposera en revanche pas de missiles de croisière Scalp Naval

22 June 2011 defenseWeb

The South African Army has awarded Reutech Radar Systems (RRS) a further R87 995 to continue development of an artillery consistency improvement system. The order is an extension of work awarded in 2009 and 2010. Spending since 2009 and to date amounts to R17 627 721.86.

The International Defence Review (IDR) on May 2006 reported a South African technology programme to devise an economical 1-dimensional (range-only) consistency improvement system (CIS) for artillery projectiles had been underway since 2000.

RRS last year told an industry briefing held at Africa Aerospace & Defence 2010 that the CIS will give the artillery greater accuracy with regard the fall of shot. In a presentation to industry and media the company showed that a base station would track projectiles in flight and calculate impact point. Where this is further than the point desired, a drag brake device fitted to the projectile can then be used to correct the trajectory to decrease the probable error as well as the size of the beaten zone around the desired target.

RRS added that to keep expense down, higher cost system elements were built into base station. It noted its system is independent of GPS, operates under all weather conditions and that the radar technique employed can be extended to 2D.

The IDR reported the project is being pursued by an industry consortium headed by Denel(now Denel Rheinmetall Munitions) as well as Reutech Radar Systems and Reutech Fuchs – the fuze maker – with the support of Armscor and the Defence Research and Development Board.

Consistency improvement system - extension of EAES/2009/552

AES/S2011/1189 17 Jun 2011 R87 995,00 Reutech Radar Systems (Pty) Ltd

Consistency improvement system

EAES/2009/552 23 Jun 2010 R8 769 928,86 Reutech Radar Systems (Pty) Ltd

Consistency improvement system for long range artillery projectiles

EAES/2009/175 12 Nov 2009 R8 769 798,00 Reutech Radar Systems (Pty) Ltd