Thursday, 10 February 2011 by Dean Wingrin - defenceWeb

The South African Air Force is investigating the future use of the Agusta A109 light utility helicopter (LUH) it purchased as part of the 1999 Strategic Defence Package (SDP). The A109 LUH was purchased to replace the elderly Eurocopter SA-316/SA-319 Alouette III helicopter which had been in service since 1962 in the light utility role. Delivery of the 30 A109 helicopters purchased from the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland helicopter company under Project Flange commenced in 2005 and has been beset with difficulties and delays. An option for a further ten was not exercised. The SAAF required the type to take pressure off its Denel Oryx medium utility fleet. The Air Force has long had the need for a platform more capable than the Alouette III but less expensive and more efficient than the Oryx for the bulk of taskings. The A109 was expected to fill that niche. The A109 was also expected to allow the SAAF to pass-on its Eurocopter BK-117 helicopter flet to the South African Police Service Air Wing.

by defenceWeb Wednesday, 09 February 2011 16:39

Tellumat Defence has been awarded a R350 877 contract for the provision of maintenance and support services of the South African Air Force's airfield radar approach system. The deal is an extension of a R24 million contract awarded in March 2008 and takes the worth of the work – together with other extensions to R24 782 507. The exact scope of the work is not known. Tellumat subsidiary SIA Solutions is also active in the field. SIA Solutions was in February 2009 awarded a five-year renewal of its contract to maintain the SAAF's ground-based navigation (GBN) and safe landing and approach systems. “Winning the bid again is an indication of the confidence in SIA Solutions' capacity and technical capabilities,” SIA marketing director Ntsane Kolisang said at the time. “It confirms our standing as a credible BEE player with the depth and breadth of skills to supply and maintain mission-critical aviation systems.”

08.02.2011 by Paramount Group / ARMY-GUIDE

European defence manufacturers are facing strong competition in the form of new ground breaking vehicle technology developed in Africa. Paramount Group, Africa's largest privately owned defence company, is at the forefront of this trend and is showcasing its latest vehicles at International Armoured Vehicles 2011, to be held at the Excel Centre in London from 7-10th February (at stand 931). The African defence giant, which is at IAV at the request of its customers, is showcasing its range of 'new breed' infantry fighting vehicles following the successful launch of its latest vehicle, Mbombe, in Johannesburg in late 2010. Since then Paramount Group has experienced healthy levels of interest in the vehicle from armed forces across the world. 

Written by defenceWeb Monday, 07 February 2011

Pelma Truck and Bus of Nigel has to date performed product support services worth R5.6 million for the South African National Defence Force's fleet of IVECO and ERF trucks. The latest award, worth R113 218, was made last week. It is not immediately clear how many IVECO and ERF trucks the military has on inventory or when they were acquired. BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa and Iveco Defence Vehicles last October signed a teaming agreement to pursue Project Vistula, a programme that could see the South African Army acquire as many as 5000 new trucks. DefenseNews, the US defence news daily, reports the Department of Defence acquisition agency, Armscor, was expected to put out a request for proposals (RfP) “in the next few months” for about 1200 trucks to start replacing the current fleet of Magirus Deutz “Samil” vehicles. It adds the order “could be worth around R3.2 billion for the winner. 

Source http://www.algaf.bravehost.com/mekoa200.htm

7 Fèvr. 2011 - BILADI

Plutôt que vers ses fournisseurs traditionnels, notamment la France et la Russie, c’est vers l’Allemagne que l’Algérie semble se tourner désormais pour s’approvisionner en armement. L’Algérie négocie, nous apprend le journal El Khabar , l’acquisition de deux frégates Meko auprès du constructeur allemand Tysser Krupp Marine System. L’accord de principe aura été conclu lors de la visite du président Bouteflika en Allemagne.

Source Atlas

04 02 2011 ATLAS

Deuxième frégate des 3 Sigma commandées par la Marine Royale, la frégate qui porte le numéro de coque 614 vient d'étre lancé par Damen Schelde à Vlissingen au Pays-Bas. Après le lancement de la première frégate en juillet dernier, Damen Schelde a lancé avec succès le deuxième navire de ce type, le 2 février. Long de 98m avec un déplacement de près de 2100 tonnes, la frégate qui porte le numéro de coque 614, va rejoindre son sistership ainée, long de 105m et faisant plus de 2300 tonnes de déplacement, au chantier de Damen à Vlissingen, pour être compléter.

by defenceWeb Wednesday, 02 February 2011 14:06

The South African Army Signal Formation has awarded SAAB Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd t/a SAAB Aerotech SA a R365 270.42 contract for the maintenance and support of its high frequency tactical radio communication equipment holdings. The deal follows a similar order worth R727 426 in March last year and is an extension of a R30.5 million contract awarded in August 2009. Further detail was not immediately available.

photo by SFC David D Isakson

01 Feb 2011 | Ref. 017/2011

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Through its teaming agreement with General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C), BAE Systems, Land Systems South Africa won a contract worth more than ZAR900 million ($130 million) for survivability and mobility upgrades to its RG31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

The upgrade kits will further enhance the survivability and mobility of the battle-proven RG31 vehicles.   As part of the modernization work in South Africa, a powerpack providing higher performance andnew suspension components and transfer cases, which were designed and manufactured by BAE Systems, will be incorporated into the upgrade kits.

“We appreciate our ongoing relationship with GDLS-C as well as the confidence that the U.S. military has in the RG31 vehicle.  Readiness and Sustainment is an important part of our business and through these programmes we continue to protect the lives of U.S. Soldiers,” said Johan Steyn, Managing Director BAE Systems, Land Systems South Africa.

The RG31 is a mature, combat proven mine protected armoured personnel carrier designed, developed and manufactured by BAE Systems in South Africa.  In total, over 1,600 RG31 vehicles have been delivered through GDLS-C under the MRAP programme, an additional 566 RG31s have been delivered to U.S. forces under separate contracts.

A South African C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft

18:11 GMT, January 31, 2011 DEFPRO.COM

The South African Air Force (SAAF) will not be renewing its aged transport fleet any time soon. Chief of the Air Force Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano says despite this fleet being in urgent need of replacement, the Air Force has had to reprioritise its requirements in line with those of the broader defence force. Gagiano told journalists Friday his Service has had to take a step back and re-evaluate its needs. Thus, there will be no decision made on new transport aircraft, either to replace current capability or new strategic capabilities that the now-cancelled A400M would have provided. With most transport aircraft ranging in age from 21 to 75 years old, the proverbial pachyderm remains a too-small overall defence budget. The loss of highly skilled air and ground personnel has long been a challenge to the SAAF. This past year has been kind to the SAAF, with Gagiano particularly happy that the loss rates had dropped significantly during 2010. Only 15 pilots had resigned during the past year. The figure for 2009 was 20, while 48 pilots resigned in 2008. A total of 94 technical non-commissioned officers resigned in 2010, the same as in 2009, compared to 200 in 2008. Similarly, eight Air Traffic Controllers had resigned, compared to eight in 2009 and eleven in 2008, he told reporters ahead of the annual Air Force Day Parade held on Friday at Swartkop airfield near Pretoria.

Gecko ATV RDLV with general cargo trailer

photo LMT Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Written by defenceWeb Thursday, 27 January 2011

LMT Products, a business unit of Land Mobility Technologies, has been awarded a R219 298 contract to provide product service support to the LMT Gecko Airborne amphibious 8x8 light rapid deployment logistic vehicle. As far as can be determined, this is the first such work for industry since the system was introduced to the Parachute Regiment and Special Forces.

Lt. Col. Jack Aalborg, the Libreville Gabon attaché, translates a briefing

given by Senior Airman Dayton Riter to Gabon AF Col. JF Asseko Bekogo (right)

and Gabon AF Col. JP Makoka (left).

(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brittney Frees)

January 27, 2011 RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - DEFPRO.COM

Two Gabonese air base commanders visited Ramstein, Sembach and Spangdahlem air bases in Germany Jan. 17 through 20. The trip focused on air base defense. "The sorts of threats that exist in Gabon also exist here," said Gabon air force Col. Jean Paulin Asseko Makoka, the commander of Liberville Air Force Base. "We have spent time discussing various threats, and we now have a better understanding of how the U.S. Air Force confronts these threats and the measures they take to mitigate them."

illustration SA Air Force

Written by defenceWeb Tuesday, 25 January 2011 17:04

The South African Air Force has awarded Gripen International a further R123 818 contract for interim product support for the flying service's advanced light fighter aircraft. This is in addition to support-related expenditure on the fourth-generation fighter of R97.5 million between November 2009 and November last year. SAAB, to whom business unit Gripen International reports, last month announced a 45 million Swedish crowns (roughly R45.1 million) contract to provide “on demand” services for the 17 months from November 1, 2010 to the end of March 2012. “On demand” services are typically maintenance repair and overhaul, engineering support services in Sweden or on-base, at Air Force Base Makhado in South Africa, SAAB said in a statement. It is not clear if the R123 818 contract forms part of the SAAB deal or not.

photo www.aeronautique.ma

24-01-2011 par Adel. R. LE TEMPS D’ALGERIE

La première place est revenue à l'Australie avec 6,13 milliards de dollars et la deuxième aux Etats-Unis avec 4, 88 milliards de dollars. L'Inde, le Pakistan et l'Irak sont classés respectivement à la 3e, 4e et 5e places avec 4,56, 3,79 et 3,39 milliards de dollars.

Les Emirats arabes unis occupent la 6e place avec 3,27 milliards de dollars suivie par l'Arabie saoudite à la 7e place avec 3,26 milliards de dollars puis par Singapour avec 2,33 milliards de dollars et la Turquie avec 2,19 milliards de dollars. Les ventes d'armes ont connu en 2010 leur plus haut niveau depuis la fin de la guerre froide et il est attendu une baisse des ventes d'ici 2014. Selon le même centre, le volume des ventes en 2010 a atteint environ 71,7 milliards de dollars. Les USA ont arraché la première place parmi les exportateurs avec 28, 34 milliards de dollars de ventes.

La deuxième place d'exportateur est revenue à la Russie avec 8,88 milliards de dollars. Selon l'agence Novosti, le service après-vente et la vente de pièces détachées ne sont pas comptés dans le chiffre concernant la Russie à cause d'un manque d'informations.

Ces services et les petits contrats de ce pays sont toutefois estimés à 1,2 milliard de dollars, ce qui donne un chiffre global d'environ 10 milliards. Mis à part les USA et la Russie, on retrouve parmi les plus grands exportateurs d'armes, l'Allemagne à la 3e place (6,26 Mds), la France 4e (4,26 Mds), la Grande-Bretagne 5e ( 3,98 Mds), l' Italie 6e (3,32 Mds), Israël 7e (3,22), la Suède 8e (2,37 Mds), la Chine 9e (1,87 Mds) et à la 10e place, l'Espagne avec 1,56 milliard de dollars. Le directeur du centre Kortchenko a indiqué que malgré le record des ventes en 2010, il faut s'attendre à une baisse entre 2011 et 2013. Il a ajouté que les gros contrats signés entre les USA et l'Arabie et les pays du Golfe ainsi que la vente de 126 avions chasseurs à l'Inde ne changeront  pas tellement les prévisions pour 2013, sachant que les livraisons auront lieu après 2014.