29.09.2015 ambafrance-rsa.org

Les forces françaises basées à la Réunion participent à l’exercice Oxide 2015 du 9 septembre au 2 octobre à Richards Bay avec les forces armées sud-africaines.

Le but de cet exercice est de renforcer notre coopération et de développer notre interopérabilité afin de faire face plus efficacement aux enjeux régionaux de sécurité.

A l’occasion de sa quatrième édition, cet exercice a pris une dimension interarmées. La marine sud-africaine a ainsi engagé trois bateaux, le SAS Protea (bâtiment océanographique), le SAS Isaac Dhyoba (Offshore Patrol Vessel) et le sous-marin SAS Queen Modjadji. La France a déployé la frégate de surveillance Floréal.

Un C130 BZ et un CASA 235 ont participé à des opérations de parachutages de forces spéciales sud-africaines et de commandos français. Un C 47 TP a réalisé des missions de sauvetage en mer et de surveillance maritime. En complément, un Oryx et le Panther du Floréal ont déposé des équipes d’inspection et évacué des blessés dans le cadre d’opérations de sauvetage en mer.

La frégate de surveillance Floréal :

Le Floréal est une frégate de surveillance, dont la mission est de faire respecter la souveraineté de l’Etat français dans les espaces maritimes éloignés de la métropole. A ce titre, elle intervient dans les opérations de lutte contre la piraterie et les trafics, de police des pêches, de surveillance du trafic commercial et de sauvetage en mer.

Long de 93,50m, large de 14m, il déplace 2800 tonnes. Le Floréal est armé d’un canon de 100mm, de deux canons de 20mm et de quatre mitrailleuses de 12,7mm. Un hélicoptère de type Panther est embarqué en permanence.

VIP day :

A l’occasion du VIP day de l’exercice Oxide qui s’est tenu le 24 septembre, madame l’Ambassadrice Elisabeth Barbier, le Lieutenant-general Mgwebi (chef des opérations interarmées), le Lieutenant-general Msimang (chef d’état-major de l’armée de l’air), le Vice-Amiral Hlongwane (chef d’Etat-major de la marine), le Lieutenant-general Nyembe (Chef des Renseignements Militaires) et le Général de Brigade Reignier (commandant supérieur des Forces Armées de la Zone Sud de l’Océan Indien FAZSOI) ont pu assister à une démonstration des capacités des forces engagées. Pendant plus d’une heure, les participants ont présenté l’ensemble du spectre des missions qui sont jouées durant cet exercice.

14 September 2015 by defenceWeb

SAS Protea (A324), the South African Navy’s hydrographic vessel, will be the lead South African platform in the upcoming Exercise Oxide later this month.

She, along with the offshore patrol vessel SAS Isaac Dyobha (P1565) and the Type 209 submarine SAS Queen Modjadji (S103) make up the South African complement for the exercise starting in Richards Bay on September 21.

The French light surveillance frigate, FNS Floreal (F730), part of the French naval force stationed at La Reunion, will be the sole French vessel taking part in this year’s exercise. The previous Exercise Oxide took place off the Mozambican port of Maputo.

This year’s exercise will again emphasise the search and rescue aspect of naval operations and will also include a high value target extraction, giving French Commandos and South African maritime reaction squadron members and Special Forces the opportunity to hone their particular skills.

Other French forces taking part will be a seaborne Commando group and an infantry section aboard a CASA CN235.

Other South African military elements to be deployed for the exercise, which ends on October 2, include a 28 Squadron C-130BZ, a 35 Squadron C-47TP and possibly a Super Lynx maritime helicopter (22 Squadron) as well as Special Forces comprising a submarine team, a submarine parachute action group and an airborne team. SA Military Health Services (SAMHS) will have task teams ashore and aboard with an operational emergency care practitioner on each of the SA Navy platforms taking part.

The search and rescue component will be co-ordinated by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Cape Town and the Maritime Rescue Sub-regional Centre on La Reunion. It will centre round a distressed passenger liner scenario about 20 kilometres offshore from Richards Bay and will see all Exercise Oxide forces involved as well as the Richards Bay Port Authority and other government departments and agencies.

Military operations to be exercised include establishing an airhead either at Mtubatuba or Richards Bay airport, moving to Naval Island for the simulated high value extraction. Combat swimmers, attack divers, kayaks, inflatables, and delta boats will be utilised by Special Forces and the Maritime Reaction Squadron detachment.

The first week of sea operations coincide with World Maritime Day on September 24 and a number of events are planned for Richards Bay to mark the day.

22 July 2015 by Dean Wingrin

No-one was injured when a South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter suffered damaged to its' nose on Saturday July 18 while operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Unconfirmed reports state the helicopter, serial 1209 (UNO 827), was taxiing on the ground at Goma airport in the eastern DRC at 14h45 when the nose wheel hit a 5cm raised section of a resurfaced taxiway area. This caused the nose wheel to collapse, leaving the helicopter nose down on the apron.

The SAAF operates a number of Oryx medium-transport helicopters as part of an SANDF deployment in the DRC. South African elements are part of both the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission and the UN FIB (Force Intervention Brigade).

In May this year, another SAAF Oryx flying in the DRC was hit by small arms fire when flying the MONUSCO Force Commander on a routine visit to the Bunia area of operations when several shots from a small calibre weapon were fired at it from unidentified gunmen on the ground. One of the projectiles penetrated an internal fuel tank, causing a fuel leak. The aircraft commander took evasive action, flew out of the danger zone and diverted safely to Beni Mavivi Airport.

Picture via the Unofficial SAAF website

01 July 2015 by defenceWeb

Vehicle maintenance of particularly the SA Army’s older Samil trucks has been in the hands of Cuban diesel mechanics for at least three months and if Armscor tenders are anything to go by they are making inroads into the backlog.

No less than four tenders issued by Armscor this month are for parts to be used on Samils. They are driveline sub-assemblies (ESPV/2015/68), air brake components (ESPV/2015/65), electrical components (ESPV/2015/66) and clutch and pressure plates (ESPV/2015/67). The tenders close on July 14 with the exception of the one for sub-assemblies which closes a day later.

Samil trucks were locally manufactured during the arms embargo using Magirus Deutz chassis and engines with the final units built in 1998. They are set to be replaced by new vehicles to be acquired in terms of projects Sepula and Vistula, both of which have been “deferred” according to SA Army Chief, Lieutenant General Vusi Masondo.

There are currently just on a hundred Cuban technicians working on the Samil vehicles at bases including Potchefstroom, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. They are in South Africa on a 12 month contract to refurbish vehicles and assist the SANDF in building capacity in this particular skill, Department of Defence head of communications Siphiwe Dlamini, said in March.

“The SANDF has had numerous problems with vehicles. They get fixed but two to three weeks down the line they are stuck on the road.

“The Cubans are here to assist us fix the vehicles and create capacity in the defence force so we can do the fixing and maintenance ourselves,” he said during a media visit to Potchefstroom in March.

20 May 2015 by defenceWeb

African Equity Empowerment Investments Limited (former Sekunjalo Investment Ltd) has acquired 25% of Saab Grintek Defence for R120 million, and will dispose of its 5% shareholding in parent company Saab South Africa for R20 million.

AEEI Newco, set up specifically for the transaction and 60% owned by AEEI, will acquire the stake in Saab Grintek Defence (SGD). It will retain at least 51% black ownership status as long as it is a shareholder in SGD.

The effective date of the acquisition will be no later than 26 June this year, according to a Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) notice.

“We are proud to have AEEI as a strategic partner and we see this agreement as further strengthening our commitment to the industrial growth and prosperity of South Africa at the same time supporting our endeavours to supply security solutions in Africa,” said Leif Karlsson, Acting CEO of Saab Grintek Defence.

CEO of AEEI, Khalid Abdulla said, “It has always been part of the company’s growth strategy to become an empowerment partner of choice to multinationals due to our credibility, expertise and credentials built up over the years. We are exceptionally proud to have increased our stake within the Saab Group through SGD.

“This additional acquisition is an important breakthrough for both AEEI and Saab for its growth plans within South Africa, Africa and abroad by adding value, creating jobs, alleviating poverty and finding solutions in the global market.”

“We are confident that our investment in Saab will open many more doors for opportunities across the continent, the globe and especially BRICS, with the prospect of further exploring AEEI and Saab’s capabilities in the technology sectors and in new markets,” said Abdulla.

Saab Grintek Defence specialises in areas that include electronic warfare systems, sensor technology, command and control, training systems, avionics, security and support solutions. As the export market represents almost 75% of the South African company’s total turnover, Saab Grintek Defence was awarded the Best Exporter Award by the SA Premier Business Awards in 2013 and 2014.

One of SGD’s main sources of turnover is the Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS), which has done well in India, where it is being fitted onto the Air Force and Army’s Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters. SGD also developed and are producing the LEDS self-protection system for land vehicles.

SGD in March announced R940 million in follow-on orders from India for Integrated Defensive Aids Suites (IDAS) for the Indian Army and Air Force’s Dhruv helicopters. Deliveries will take place between 2015 and 2018. The most recent orders are by far the largest from HAL, the helicopter’s manufacturer, as the company speeds up production.

SGD is tasked with producing some of the microwave components for the antennas and electronic warfare components of the Gripen fighter jet for the international market and is currently assembling these parts for the current generation Gripen at its facilities in Centurion outside Pretoria. As one of Saab’s microwave production houses, this provides a lot of business for Saab Grintek Defence and accounts for around 8% of sales.

The company today has turnover in excess of a billion rand a year and employs 700-800 people. 80-90% of this revenue is from foreign orders.

29 April 2015 by defenceWeb

State-owned defence conglomerate Denel has now acquired Land Systems South Africa (LSSA) from BAE Systems, with BAE yesterday announcing the sale of its 75% stake in LSSA.

Denel took over the majority ownership stake for R641 million ($53 million) in cash. The complete acquisition cost Denel R855 million, as it also bought the remaining 25% stake from BAE Systems’ partner DGD Technologies.

Speaking to defenceWeb last week, Denel Group CEO Riaz Saloojee said that with the acquisition of LSSA, the whole landward mobility capability of the South African National Defence Force will once again be invested in the state. LSSA, Denel Land Systems, Mechem and LMT will be under one roof.

Regarding the future of LSSA, Saloojee said Denel plans to grow the division to produce more vehicle capacity than there is at present. LSSA will be focused on the international market, particularly in areas like the Middle East and Africa.

“This proposed divestiture will further focus our portfolio on our core capabilities and strong franchise positions in tracked, combat, and amphibious vehicles and weapon systems which represent markets where we possess strong franchise positions and discriminating capabilities,” said Erwin Bieber, president of BAE Systems’ Platforms and Services sector, when the deal was initially announced. “We also recognise that the LSSA employees have made a significant contribution to BAE Systems over the last 10 years, and we believe that transitioning ownership to Denel will better position the LSSA business to achieve its full potential working with a strong South African company.”

BAE Systems and Denel signed an agreement to proceed with the sale in August last year, which was anticipated to conclude during the fourth quarter after receiving regulatory and other approvals.

LSSA has comprised three business segments employing approximately 500 people. The LSSA business specialises in the design and manufacture of military tactical-wheeled vehicles, mechanical driveline products, precision-machined components and gears, fire directing systems, and remote weapon launching platforms, subsystems and products.

LSSA already works with Denel, supplying commander and gunner sights for the Badger 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle being developed by Denel Land Systems for the South African Army.

The deal comes as BAE sells off various divisions, such as its Safariland protective clothing and body armour business for $124 million, commercial armoured vehicle activities for $10 million and a small unmanned aerial vehicle business.

01 April 2015 by defenceWeb

In line with ongoing defence collaboration between South Africa and Malaysia, Denel Aerostructures has signed a memorandum of understanding with Strand Aerospace Malaysia covering knowledge transfer and possible subcontracting work.

The agreement was signed on 17 March during the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Defence Show (LIMA) in Malaysia. Under the agreement, Denel staff will help Strand strengthen is technical capabilities in the area of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), through engineer mentoring and knowledge provision. Denel is also considering giving Strand design and engineering work packages.

The collaboration is part of the number of defence and high-technology indirect offset initiatives between South African and Malaysian companies, managed by Malaysia Industry Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and the Technology Depository Agency (TDA).

In 2011 Denel Land Systems signed a contract to supply a range of turrets and integrated weapon systems to be fitted onto the Malaysian Army’s Pars 8X8 armoured vehicles. The major portion of this contract is being implemented in Malaysia over a seven year period.

Denel said it has already started with a programme of direct technology transfer and is meeting its commitment to build high-tech capacity in the Malaysian defence sector.

It flows from the strong diplomatic and trade relations between South Africa and Malaysia since the democratic transition in 1994. The President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, visited Malaysia in 2013 during which bilateral relations including the offset initiatives resulting from the Denel contract were discussed.

Following Zuma’s visit, Denel signed a memorandum of understanding with Strand Aerospace (SAM) to explore opportunities for technology transfer. “We are proud to work with a world-class Malaysian entity which is at the cutting edge of technology and has identified Denel as a useful strategic partner in the future,” said Riaz Saloojee, Denel Group Chief Executive.

In terms of the new agreement a senior technical specialist from Denel Aerostructures will spend at least a year at Strand Aerospace Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur to build capacity within the company, mentor emerging engineers and provide guidance on the company’s efforts to enter the global supply chains of major aerospace manufacturers.

The programme will include on the job training to at least 10 engineers employed by SAM; formal classroom training and professional mentoring; professional advice and guidance to other engineers; ongoing technical support and the development of tools and processes to support project delivery.

Saloojee said Denel will continue to support SAM’s human capital development programme and provide professional advice based on its own extensive experience in manufacturing and design engineering. This cooperation and knowledge-sharing will also contribute to the growth of indigenous South African aerospace industry.

The relationship between South Africa and Malaysia goes back a long way, but was formally established in 1993. Malaysia was the first country to invest in South Africa in 1994, and is still the largest investor from South East Asia in the country. Total trade between both nations rose from $1.4 billion in 2008 to $2.3 billion in 2012, fostered by the creation in 1997 of the South Africa- Malaysia Business Council by former president Nelson Mandela and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

26 March 2015 by defenceWeb

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) will be part and parcel of the Rand Show right from the official opening Friday after next along with arena and static displays for the duration of the event at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

Of the more than 10 000 square metres of display space that will be taken up by the military, a major portion will be dedicated to careers in the SANDF. To be housed in Hall 10A, the career expo will, in addition to having representatives from all four arms of service on hand to answer questions, also have Army Young Lions and Air Force Young Falcons present. They will tell, in their own words, what these two arms of service are like, having done camps and been involved in some of the musterings, ranging from pilots, navigators and flight engineers through to artillery and mortar men as well as Sappers, the military name for an engineer whose work ranges from blowing up bridges and roads to building them and providing clean water.

Another part of the indoor exhibition will be a display showing a typical day in the life of a soldier. Also of interest to those thinking of joining the SANDF, more specifically the Signals Formation, will be a display pitting first generation communication methods such as Morse Code against modern signalling equipment and technology.

Rand Show visitors will also be able to show their support for soldiers on peace support and peacekeeping missions in the DRC and Sudan. 11 Field Postal Unit, an active Reserve Force unit staffed by Post Office employees, will be open for the duration of the show and have goodwill postcards waiting for messages.

The outdoor exhibition will feature, among others, the Ratel ZT3, Gecko rapid deployment vehicle, Badger infantry combat vehicle, Rooikat armoured vehicle, radar systems, a tactical intelligence post with working cameras, the Rooivalk combat support helicopter, Umlindi radar, a flight simulator, a dive tank and compression chamber as well as elements of a field hospital and emergency medical, disaster and search and rescue equipment.

The military will this year also be hands-on with visitors to the SANDF exhibition able to try their skills on driving, shooting and missile simulators.

The SAAF Silver Falcons aerobatic team, headquartered at AFB Langebaanweg, will perform displays as will Hawk Mk120 Lead-In Fighter Trainers from 85 Combat Flying School at AFB Makhado. Their displays will coincide with SANDF arena displays including fast-roping of specialist infantry from an Oryx helicopter, an artillery gun run, precision drill and parachute jumps (weather permitting).

The military contribution to the opening on Friday April 3 will be in the form of a massed band comprising the SA Military Health Service band, the SA Army’s Kroonstad band and the SA Navy band.

The Rand Show closes on April 12.

23 Mars 2015 Source : Marine nationale

Après 30 jours de patrouille opérationnelle dans les Zones Économiques Exclusives des Kerguelen et de Crozet, la frégate de surveillance Floréal a fait relâche dans la ville du Cap en Afrique du Sud.

La patrouille réalisée s’inscrit dans le cadre de la protection des intérêts français dans cette zone et, en particulier, la lutte contre la pêche illicite dans les eaux poissonneuses autour des îles des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. Elle est de la plus haute importance compte tenu des richesses naturelles convoitées que contiennent ces 2,8 millions de kilomètres carrés d’eaux françaises. C’est donc avant tout une mission de souveraineté dont les actions de surveillance des pêches constituent le volet économique et écologique.

Si les contacts sont peu nombreux, c’est grâce à l’action conduite depuis des années par les bâtiments des Forces armées dans la zone sud de l’océan Indien (FAZSOI) dans cette zone, en relation avec le CROSS Réunion, qui ont un effet dissuasif puissant. Cependant, comme le confirment les observations satellites, les incursions de contrevenants ne sont pas écartées et l’effort doit se maintenir pour éviter leur recrudescence. Il en va de même pour les approches des îles  Heard et Mac Donald, dépendantes de l’Australie avec laquelle une coopération est en place.

En remontant de Kerguelen vers le Cap de Bonne Espérance, une fois n’est pas coutume, face aux vents dominants, le Floréal a parfois affronté  des mers rudes et des températures proches du zéro et croisé quelques icebergs. Ces derniers imposent une veille particulièrement attentive tant en passerelle qu’au central opération (CO) dans une zone où la visibilité est très variable et où l’on peut passer plusieurs jours en visibilité réduite. Des passages dans les îles de Crozet et Kerguelen ont permis d’échanger avec les permanents en place et de leur apporter parfois un peu de soutien.

Outre le ravitaillement et les maintenances nécessaires, la relâche à Cap Town a permis de conduire un certain nombre d'échanges avec la South African Navy (SAN) et la communauté française, essentiellement sous l'impulsion de la mission militaire de l'ambassade.

La partie sud-africaine a finalement confirmé les manœuvres d'hélicoptères sur la plateforme du Floréal. A l'appareillage, des manœuvres aviation ont donc été réalisées par un Oryx (Puma SA) sur la plate-forme du Floréal. Ces échanges sont un excellent préalable à l’exercice Oxyde 2015 prévu avec l’Afrique du Sud en septembre auquel la frégate de surveillance devrait participer.

19 March 2015 by Peter Fabricius, Foreign Editor, Independent Newspapers, South Africa - defenceWeb

In the early hours of 28 July 2012, three people, one of them an 82-year-old nun named Megan Rice, broke into the Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex near the city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Y-12 is where all of America’s highly enriched uranium (HEU) – for making nuclear weapons – is made or stored: about 400 000 kg of it, according to The New Yorker magazine.

Rice and two others from the Plowshare anti-nuclear activist group managed to cut through three fences, paint slogans and splash blood on the football-field-sized building housing the Y-12 arsenal before a few of the 500-odd security guards finally arrived to arrest them. This demonstration by Plowshare – one of many over the last 35 years – was designed in part to show that America’s nuclear weapons were not secure from theft by terrorists. Which it did.

Five years earlier, in November 2007, two groups of intruders cut through the security fences surrounding South Africa’s 118-acre Pelindaba Nuclear Research Centre, west of Pretoria. They got as far as the emergency operations centre before a barking dog alerted a stand-in security officer, who called for back up. The intruders fled after shooting a security officer’s boyfriend, though not fatally.

Read full article here.

18 March 2015 defenceWeb (Reuters)

Foreign private security personnel from South Africa, Russia and South Korea are on the ground in northeast Nigeria to train Nigerian troops and are not engaged in frontline combat against Boko Haram, the government said on Tuesday.

According to security and diplomatic sources, Nigeria has brought in hundreds of mercenaries to give its offensive against the Islamist militant group a shot in the arm ahead of the March 28 presidential elections.

But government spokesman Mike Omeri said foreigners on the ground were only engaged in training Nigerian troops.

"There are trainers on the ground to assist in the handling of equipment," Omeri told Reuters on the sidelines of a news conference in London. "They simulate, they teach. These are the things they do."

Asked if they were directly involved in fighting, he said: "I am not aware of that."

Africa's most populous nation and top energy producer has been plagued by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, when insurgents intensified efforts to establish an Islamic caliphate in the northeastern Borno state.

However, this year Nigeria and its neighbours have launched a series of offensives to recapture territory, turning the tide against Boko Haram in the run-up to the hotly contested presidential poll.

Omeri would not confirm how many foreigners were involved but said they had come from the same countries that had provided military equipment. He cited South Africa, Russia and South Korea.

"Acquisition of recruitment and military hardware is done through a number of processes. There are government-to-government exchanges and there are those who also come through contractors," he said.

The contractors' stay in Nigeria would end when local troops had become proficient at handling the equipment, he added.

"This is training on site and maybe this is why the people on the ground have been described as mercenaries."

He declined to predict how long it would take for the military to regain full control.

"We have started the final onslaught," he said. "This is the road to the finish and we are on it already."

Mar 13, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Denel; issued March 10, 2015)

New Alliance to Boost South Africa’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities

Denel has joined forces with local specialist company, GEW Technologies, owned by Airbus, to collaborate on future electronic warfare programmes.

The new alliance will significantly strengthen South Africa’s capabilities in an area that has become a primary feature of modern defence systems, says the Group CEO of Denel, Riaz Saloojee. “We are combining the experience, reputation and resources of Denel with the specialist technology and expertise offered by GEW Technologies to create an alliance that will best serve the strategic interests of South Africa.”

Electronic warfare technology has been singled out in the 2014 Defence Review as a “key technology domain” and a “sovereign capability” which must be under the control of local South African companies.

Mr Carel van der Merwe, the CEO of GEW Technologies says the company has more than 40 years of experience in the design and production of sophisticated communication monitoring, countermeasures and integrated security systems. “We are looking forward to work with Denel in an alliance that heralds a new era in electronic warfare programmes in South Africa,” he says.

The company’s ties with Airbus Defence and Space will add the international experience and expertise of Europe’s leading manufacturer of defence technology. Denel already has a strong working relationship with Airbus through its role as a top tier supplier of aerostructures for the A400M, the world’s most advanced military airlifter.

“This agreement confirms the trust that Airbus has in the capabilities of both Denel and GEW Technologies and will strengthen the relationship between our companies,” said Mr Andreas Huelle, the Head of Electronic Warfare at Airbus Defence and Space.

The recently established Denel Integrated Systems and Management will manage the implementation of the agreement and drive the projects and programmes that will form the core of its activities.

The CEO, Ismail Dockrat, says Denel ISM was primarily created to be a partner of the defence and security sectors in the design, management, integration and through-life support of complex systems.

“Electronic warfare will be a primary future area of focus for the SANDF to rapidly expand its current capabilities and implement counter-measures to combat potential threats to the security of the country.

This partnership between Denel ISM and GEW Technologies will play a leadership role to coordinate different initiatives in the field, advise decision-makers on the acquisition of the most appropriate systems, ensure that the end-users are adequately trained and provide on-going support, maintenance and upgrading of the systems,” says Dockrat.

11 March 2015 by Dean Wingrin - defenceWeb

Cape Town has seen a profusion of visiting foreign naval ships these past few weeks and now it is the turn of the French surveillance frigate Floréal to delight in what the Cape has to offer.

Floréal (F730), based in Port-des-Galets, Reunion Island, is visiting Cape Town as its first port of call since departing on a patrol of French overseas territories approximately 30 days ago.

Floréal’s main action areas are the Indian Ocean (Eastern Africa and Southern Asia) and the French Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) north of the Antarctic. Thus, she is a regular visitor to Cape Town. Having arrived on 6 March, she will be using her short stay to refuel, perform routine maintenance and allow the crew a few days R&R (Rest and Recuperation).

Commander Marc Woodcock, Officer Commanding Floréal, told defenceWeb that they had just endured some really rough seas and cold temperatures whilst performing surveillance in the EEZ of the islands of Kerguelen, Crozet and St Paul and Amsterdam, also known as the Desolation Islands, in the southern Indian Ocean.

These islands, among the most isolated places on Earth, are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and are administered as a separate district. There are no indigenous inhabitants, but France maintains a permanent presence of scientists, engineers and researchers.

The area is known for being rich in the fragile Patagonian Toothfish species and thus the Floréal ventured as far as 50 degrees south to ensure no illegal fishing activities were taking place.

“The temperature went down to approximately 2 degrees Celsius,” Woodcock said, “We can’t go beyond 60 degrees south as it is an international demilitarised zone and warships can’t go down there.”

Of course, fishery patrol is not their main mission. “It is, first of all, sovereignty. Because it is French zones, it is important to show we are there and know what is happening. It is our number one mission. Fishery, EEZ is the economic aspect of it,” Woodcock explained.

Floréal carries out several different tasks such as anti-piracy missions, maritime surveillance, fishing patrols in Austral and Antarctic French economic areas as well as public service operations and the enforcement of France’s international defence agreements.

Woodcock notes that the frigates (Floréal and her sister ship Nivôse which is also based at Reunion Island) are multi-mission vessels and are deployed in various types of operations.

“We have a Panther maritime helicopter aboard and a large boarding team. Also permanent satellite communications and air surveillance radar. Our assets allow us to do all kinds of things, which differentiates us from the patrol boats,” he remarked.

Floréal will resume her patrol on Thursday 12 March and is expected to be back in Reunion in mid-April. The route home will include patrolling French islands and protectorates in the Mozambique Channel.

Although France is not part of the Operation Copper anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel, Woodcock says that they are available to assist should they be close and in international waters.

Floréal is the first vessel of a series of six surveillance frigates of the same class. She was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire and commissioned in March 1992. With an overall length of 93.5 meters and breadth of 14 meters, the frigate Floréal displaces 2 800 tons. She is armed with one 100 mm and two 20 mm multipurpose guns and four 12.7 mm browning guns. The Floréal is also fitted with a Eurocopter Panther helicopter. The crew is composed of 98 sailors: 14 officers, 65 petty officers and 19 seamen.

Floréal will be back in South African waters in September this year when she participates in Exercise Oxide 2015, the joint maritime exercise held between the French naval forces stationed at Reunion Island and the South African Navy. The exercise will once again take place in the Richards Bay area. The Reunion Island-based French Navy Amphibious Supply Ship La Grandière”visited Richards Bay in mid-February.