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Strategic Defence Procurement ]
New defence equipment
South Africa’s largest-ever arms deal has its roots in the White
Paper on National Defence, which was approved by Parliament in 1996. The White Paper
provided for a Defence Review, which outlined a new force design for the SA National
Defence Force.
The reasons why South Africa needs this particular equipment can be summarised as
follows:
Corvettes (4)
The South African Navy is acquiring four Patrol Corvettes of the type MEKOŽ
A200-SAN including support equipment from the German Corvette Consortium consisting of
Blohm + Voss, Thyssen Rheinstahl, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf (HDW) and Thomson CSF,
France. The ships are due for delivery from Germany to South Africa from the end of 2003
and completing by mid 2005. Thereafter the combat suite element will be fitted in South
Africa by the local defence industry. This will require an extra year of sea trials and
in-service acceptance testing. The ships would be operationally ready by 2006.
The Patrol Corvette is a multi-purpose and multi-capable vessel for executing
various naval missions. The combat suite element is about 40% the cost of the Corvette.
The length of the ship is approximately 121 metres with a combined gas and deisel engine
capability.
The Corvettes would be the workhorses of the SA Navy. They would be capable of
conducting sustained operations with an optimum design to negotiate sea conditions like
those found off the South African coast.
The Corvettes are designed to carry one helicopter, which would significantly improve
and extend its surveillance, operational and sea rescue capabilities. The SA Navy has no
ships in this class, having lost the last frigate type 12-class ship in 1986 due to
obselence.
The tasks that it will conduct include:
- Regular patrols for the protection of our marine resources against poaching and
pollution in our Economic Exclusion Zone;
- Law enforcement at sea with respect to piracy and the smuggling of drugs, weapons and
other contraband;
- Search and rescue missions as far south as the Prince Edward and Marion Islands:
- The evacuation of civilian personnel from coastal areas in times of emergency or crisis;
- Provide support for land forces, as well as the transport of limited equipment and
personnel in support of land action, especially during peacekeeping missions.
Light utility helicopter (30/10)
The A109 LUH helicopter from Agusta, Italy is a twin engine Light Utility
Helicopter. The first helicopter will be delivered in April 2003; thereafter delivery will
be at An approximate rate of 10 per year. The acquisition will be for a quantity of 30 and
includes support equipment.
The light utility helicopters will be operated at a lower cost level than the
current aged French Alouette III Helicopters that will have seen service in excess of 40
years in the South African Air Force by the time they are replaced.
The helicopters will accommodate up to eight occupants including the pilot and co-pilot
and can also be configured to accommodate two stretchers and a medical attendant in the
passenger compartment.
The helicopters are to be used for training, providing emergency medical services and
humanitarian aid, search and rescue, forward airborne control in operational conditions,
patrol operations and SAPS support.
This helicopter will play a major role in internal security, border patrol and
peacekeeping operations.
Submarine (3)
Three Class 209 Type 1400 MOD diesel-electric submarines with logistic support
equipment will be acquired from the German Submarine Consortium, consisting off Thyssen
Nordtsee Werke, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf (HDW) and Ferrostaal. The submarines will be
delivered between 2005 and 2007.
These submarines will replace the aged French Daphne submarines which have been in
service since the 1960s and for which certain spares have become obsolete.
In terms of tonnage, more than 95% of South Africa’s imports and exports and over
80% in terms of monetary value pass through the country’s ports. The SA Navy’s
primary function is to ensure that its sea-borne trade is not threatened.
Submarines’ inherent stealth makes them excellent vessels for obtaining
information on illegal activities in territorial waters. They are used successfully
against illegal shipping and/or fishing activities by discretely gathering information,
which is passed on to surface vessels for action. In addition, they are used as force
multipliers. Submarines are considered strategic equipment in the SANDF and are considered
to be a vital force in protecting the security of South Africa.
The South African Navy will deploy its submarines in the following manner:
- In support of international peacetime joint operations;
- To act as a strategic deterrence against would-be future aggressors;
- To patrol/protect natural resources in vital areas of national interests, including our
fishing zones;
- To collect acoustic, electronic and communications intelligence, and photographic
intelligence, on a covert basis in support of peacekeeping and specific intelligence
gathering operations.
RSA Hawk Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) (12/12)
The South African Airforce (SAAF) will acquire 12 British Aerospace-supplied
Hawk 100s, customised to meet specific South African requirements. All aircraft will be
dual seat aircraft, and optimised for jet training as well as weapon-delivery training.
The Hawk is powered by the latest Rolls Royce Adour engine and has a max level speed of
Mach 0.85. The normal operating speed is 400 KTS in a typical training configuration.
Assuming a contract effective date of 01 April 2000, the first 12 Hawks will be delivered
by 2005 and the next batch by 2006, if Government should exercise the second tranche
option.
The Hawk will replace the Impala trainers, which have been in use since the 1960s
and have already been declared obsolete by the SAAF. The Impalas will be removed from the
SAAF inventory as the Hawks are brought into service.
The Hawks will provide a cost-effective bridge in the training gap between the Pilatus
PC-7 Mk II Astra basic turbo propeller trainer and the front-line super-sonic fighter
aircraft, the Cheetah C.
Pilots who have qualified on the Astra will do jet-type conversion and an operational
training course on the Hawk at 85 Combat Flying School, followed by a consolidation period
at operational squadron level.
The aircraft will be used in the following roles:
- Jet conversion training;
- Operational fighter training;
- Fighter instructor training;
- Fighter consolidation training;
- Search and rescue;
- Border line patrol;
- Limited tactical reconnaissance;
- Limited close air support;
- Forward airborne control.
RSA Gripen Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA) (9/19)
The South African Airforce will acquire 9 British Aerospace/Saab-supplied JAS 39
dual-seat Gripens, customised to meet specific South African requirements to fulfil the
role of an Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA). The Gripen is a highly integrated
multi-role aircraft, capable of flying air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance
missions. The aircraft is fitted with the Volvo RM12, a modern two-spool gas turbine
engine, delivering 18 000 lbs of thrust in full afterburner. The aircraft's maximum speed
is Mach 1.4. The nine dual-seat Gripens will be delivered between 2006 and 2008 and the
next batch of 19 single-seat Gripens between 2009 and 2011, subject to Government
exercising the option of the remaining aircraft.
The 9 dual-seat plus 19 single-seat will replace the dual-seat Cheetah D and the
single-seat Cheetah C fighters currently in inventory, and due to be phased out between
January 2008 and December 2012.
The Gripen’s superior handling and manoeuvring qualities are obtained through a
state of the art digital fly by wire flight control system. The aircraft is equipped with
a very modern, ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, augmented by a satellite
navigation system (GPS) as well as a radio navigation system.
The Gripen will be used in the following roles:
- Tactical offensive fire support (land and maritime);
- Counter air operations and interception;
- Tactical reconnaissance;
- Autonomous air operations and effective airspace control;
- Type conversion training;
- Operational conversion training.
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Last modified: 24 March 2005 10:29:18.
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