SA Military Staff Leaving
South Africa's military top brass have warned that the rate at which soldiers, sailors, pilots and technical personnel are being poached from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) poses a serious threat to the country.
The loss of pilots to the Australian Air Force alone recently prompted the chief of the South African Air Force Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano to appeal to his Australian counterpart for an end to the poaching.
"I said to him: this is not on, you can't keep poaching from me. He promised me it was not him or his force, that it was other organisations, but I think I need to follow up on that conversation," he told MPs last week.
"I said to him: this is not on, you can't keep poaching from me"
The military officers were presenting the SANDF's strategic plan for the next three years to the national council of provinces' select committee on defence and constitutional affairs.
Even musicians are in demand as a military violinist was recently recruited by a foreign fighting force. But the exodus of technicians and other specialists is far more serious.
The air force lost 218 technical specialists last year and 253 the year before. Fifty more packed their bags in the first three months of this year and April alone saw 23 technicians leave for greener pastures. Pilots are also leaving in droves.
"I have lost my Cheetah Squadron Commander to the Australian Air Force, my Hawk Squadron Commander, my senior instructor on the Hawks and just yesterday I heard that my most knowledgeable person on the Oryx helicopter is now leaving for the Australian Air Force," complained Gagiano.
He warned that the loss of air crews, particularly to the Middle and Far East, "is going to have a huge impact on the economy of the country".
'Every week the navy loses people, even Africans'
All in all, the SANDF lost 910 technicians in 2007 - more than 11 percent of its entire technical staff. One official explained that this would seem like an acceptable loss of skills to some, but that the amount of money and time that went into training these members would make it impossible for the SANDF to get a return on their investment.
It has also caused a juniorisation of technical staff, leaving only a handful of experienced personnel to guide and mentor the rest who average two or three years of experience.
Chief of policy and planning in the defence secretariat Tsepe Motumi said the problem was "across the board" in the SANDF and that the organisations was suffering from "poaching on a month-to-month basis".
Chief of the SA Navy V-Adm Johannes Mudimu sketched a dismal picture of sailors, divers, submariners and navy engineers leaving for higher wages elsewhere.
"Many divers are going to Nigeria to work on the oil rigs. Others are going to the Central African Republic to work in their oil industry. We have members who have left for Australia, New Zealand and the British Royal Navy," he said.
But the haemorrhaging of skills is not only attributed to foreign recruiters.
Local aviation companies, engineering firms, transport companies and the merchant navy are also stripping the military of much needed skills.
According to Mudimu, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has recruited many navy drivers and fire-fighters as the company gears up for the anticipated influx soccer enthusiasts in 2010.
Merchant mariners apparently lure young navy cadets literally under the noses of military brass. "We train them for three or four years at universities and technical colleges. They are sought-after individuals.
"You know, when I attend a parade to graduate these members, there are people in the audience with fat cheques. By the time I give him a trophy this youngster has already entered into an agreement (with another employer)," said Mudimu.
In other cases, companies or foreign governments simply buy South Africans out of their study contracts.
The navy chief conceded that losing trained personnel to the South African economy was "not so bad", but complained that many companies in the field no longer spent money on their own human resource development, they simply wait for the military to train staff.
He also emphasised that the problem was not limited to white military officers.
"Every week the navy loses people, even Africans. When we were building these new frigates in Germany, we sent a lot of blacks to Germany to train. When they came back they served the navy for one or two years and then they all left," he complained.
He said the navy lost 75 Africans last year.
The SANDF has set aside R408-million to provide incentives to those with scarce skills, but officials pointed out that, in the long run, the demand for skills was a global phenomenon and that it is hard for South Africa to compete.
Source: The Daily News
SA Navy Festival 2008 Pictures
Louis Vosloo has taken some pictures of the SA Navy Festival 2008.
German Navy Hamburg, currently on visit due to Exercise Good Hope III - Image: Louis Vosloo
German Navy Berlin, currently on visit due to Exercise Good Hope III - Image: Louis Vosloo
New submarine S102 in dry dock beside the decomissioned S98 - Image: Louis Vosloo
SAAF Lynx 193 - Image: Louis Vosloo
SAAF Lynx 193 - Image: Louis Vosloo
German Navy Köln, currently on visit due to Exercise Good Hope III - Image: Louis Vosloo
Decomissioned submarine S98 - Image: Louis Vosloo
Valour class F147 - Image: Louis Vosloo
German Navy Westerwald, currently on visit due to Exercise Good Hope III - Image: Louis Vosloo
New submarine S102 in dry dock - Image: Louis Vosloo
Source: airpic.co.za
More pictures of Good Hope III
Pictures of Exercise Good Hope III from aboard SAS Amatola are available thanks to Dean Wingrin:
SAS Amatola leaving Table Bay Harbour - Image: Dean Wingrin
F220 Hamburg - Image: Dean Wingrin
F220 Hamburg - Image: Dean Wingrin
F211 Köln - Image: Dean Wingrin
A1411 Berlin with Oryx - Image: Dean Wingrin
Undergoing Replenishment at Sea exercises with the Berlin - Image: Dean Wingrin
Berlin and Köln behind the Amatola - Image: Dean Wingrin
Oryx approaching the Amatola - Image: Dean Wingrin
Oryx approaching the Amatola - Image: Dean Wingrin
German Tornado - Image: Dean Wingrin
Smokey Tornado approaching the Hamburg - Image: Dean Wingrin
SAAF Cheetah - Image: Dean Wingrin
German Tornado - Image: Dean Wingrin
SAAF Cheetah - Image: Dean Wingrin
German Tornado - Image: Dean Wingrin
German Tornado - Image: Dean Wingrin
Tornado in low approach - Image: Dean Wingrin
Oryx approaching the deck - Image: Dean Wingrin
Oryx taking off - Image: Dean Wingrin
Flight back to Ysterplaat from SAS Amatola - Image: Dean Wingrin
Source: flyafrica.info
Third Combined Military Exercise between SA and Germany: Exercise Good Hope III
From 18 February to 18 March the seas and skies surrounding Cape Town will be used to conduct military exercises between South Africa and Germany. This series of exercises will be called EXERCISE GOOD HOPE III.
This will be the third time that military exercises will be conducted in South African waters between the two countries, with the last exercise taking place two years ago. During this year's exercise there will be more than 1 800 personnel, 15 ships and 16 aircraft from both countries taking part.
The "theatre of operations" will be around Cape Town and some exercises will be conducted at the Overberg Military Test Area near Bredasdorp and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans. Some of the types of exercises will include live missile and gun firings, anti-submarine warfare with mock torpedo attacks, anti-aircraft drills, fleetwork and maneuvering and more.
The objectives that both countries want to achieve with these exercises are:
- To enhance and maintain the comprehensive defence capabilities of the two armed forces.
- To develop a common understanding of military interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-operation between the German Armed Forces and the SANDF.
- To upgrade operational means and methods of multi-national conventional forces by employing different types of equipment whilst conducting and exercising according to a common set of guiding principles.
The German Defence Force will be represented by two Frigates (FGS HAMBURG and FGS KÖLN) and two Combat Support Vessels (FGS BERLIN and FGS WESTERWALD), six Tornado Fighter Aircraft and two Lynx Helicopters. The SANDF will send three Frigates (SAS AMATOLA, SAS ISANDLWANA and SAS SPIOENKOP), one Submarine (SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE) two Strike Craft (SAS GALESHEWE and SAS ISAAC DYOBHA), two Minehunters (SAS UMZIMKULU and SAS UMKOMAAS), two Inshore Patrol Vessels (SAS TERN and SAS TOBIE) and the Combat Support Vessel SAS DRAKENSBERG. In addition to this there will also be six Cheetah Fighter Aircraft and two Oryx Helicopters.
The public of Cape Town will be invited to view the German vessels at the V&A Waterfront on Sat 01 Mar to Sun 02 Mar 08. Thereafter the public can view most of the SA Navy and German vessels during the annual Navy Festival from 14 -16 Mar 08 in Simon's Town.
Source: SA Navy
Super Lynx handed over
Naval Base Simonstown, Cape Town, saw the ceremonial handover today of the Super Lynx Mk 64 helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Navy (SAN).
Super Lynx MK64 194 - Image: Dean Wingrin
The symbolic handover of the Super Lynx by the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, to the Lt. Gen. Carlo Gagiano (Chief of the SAAF) and R Adm Moseou Magalefa (Acting Chief of the SAN) provided a significant boost to maritime and air defence capabilities. In his speech, Lekota emphasised the transformation undertaken in the Department of Defence towards jointness of operations. The naval frigate and airforce helicopter comprise a potent organic partnership. While the airforce was accountable for the helicopters, they will be totally and indivisibly integrated with the combat ships of the Navy.
Super Lynx MK64 193 - Image: Dean Wingrin
All four Super Lynx were on display. Aircraft 192 was already aboard the SAS Drakensburg. After the arrival of the dignitaries, a three-ship formation of Super Lynx arrived overhead and broke over the assembled crowd. After a 19 Gun salute, aircraft 194, crewed by Agusta Westland test pilot Andy Ragett and SAAF Tactical Coordinator Maj. Mark Holden, then continued to perform some spectacular maneuvers, showing off the aircraft at its best. The helicopter then proceeded to land aboard SAS Spioenkop moored right in front of the guests. Meanwhile, 191 had landed aboard SAS Amatola and 193 aboard SAS Isandlewana.
Super Lynx MK64 191 - Image: Dean Wingrin
After the speech by the Minister of Defence, guests were invited aboard SAS Spioenkop to view the Super lynx up close. Thereafter, guests were invited to the SAS Drakensburg for refreshments.
Super Lynx 194 then lifted-off and performed for the samll group of photographers assembled on the bridge of the Spioenkop before performing a high-speed pass for the guests.
Later in the afternoon, aircraft 191 departed the SAS Amatola and also performed a high-speed pass over the ship. 193 then lifted off the SAS Isandlewana and departed for Ysterplaat.
History of the SAAF Super Lynx
Although it was announced on 18 November 1998 that Agusta Westland had been selected to supply four Super Lynx maritime helicopters to the value of R787m (£82.8m), the contract was only signed on 14 August 2003. The version purchased under Project Maulstic was the Super Lynx 300 Mk 64.
Mr Lekota, Andy Ragett, R Adm M Magalefa and Mark Holden - Image: Dean Wingrin
Developed from the Super Lynx 100, Super Lynx 300 incorporates an all new integrated "glass" cockpit with a colour liquid crystal display system. The more powerful CTS800-4N engines, jointly developed by Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, complemented with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) delivers over 30% more power. The SAAF Super Lynx aircraft have a high level of South African sourced avionics and mission equipment making it the most advanced version of the Super Lynx 300 helicopter developed and produced so far.
The first of four Super Lynx helicopters for South Africa took to the air for the first time on 24th April 2006 at AgustaWestland's Yeovil factory in the UK.
22 Squadron crew - Image: Dean Wingrin
Pilot and ground crew conversion training was conducted by AgustaWestland at its Customer Training Centre in Yeovil starting in early 2007, continuing with Agusta Westland staff in South Africa after the delivery of the aircraft to the SAAF.
The initial delivery to South Africa was delayed by a month as formal acceptance was still awaited for one piece of equipment. However, the first two aircraft (193 and 194) arrived at Cape Town International airport aboard an Antonov An-124 on the morning of 13 July 2007. The Super Lynx maintenance crews from 22 Squadron unloaded the helicopters and, having had the transport protection removed and the main rotor blades fitted, were flown that afternoon to AFB Ysterplaat, accompanied by two Oryx and an Alouette helicopter.
Super Lynx MK64 193 - Image: Dean Wingrin
The final two Super Lynx (191 and 192) arrived in Cape Town from Yeovilton on 27 July 2007, also aboard an Antonov An-124. After being offloaded, they too were flown directly to AFB Ysterplaat.
The helicopters are based at AFB Ysterplaat where they will be flown by SAAF pilots of 22 Squadron for the Navy and will be deployed on the South African Navy Valour (Meko A200SAN) class frigates performing anti-surface warfare, maritime patrol and SAR roles.
Super Lynx MK64 193 - Image: Dean Wingrin
The helicopters will provide a surface search capability in the anti-surface warfare roles, search and rescue (SAR), maritime patrol and utility duties. Ancillary duties include vertical replenishment, personnel transport and casualty evacuation.
Source: www.saairforce.co.za
SA 'spy-satellite' programme accidently exposed?
The head of Roskosmos, Russia's civilian space agency, seems to have accidentally exposed a hitherto unknown South African military space project.
Responding to a question from a correspondent for Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency regarding Russia's failure to launch South Africa's civilian Sumbandila satellite, Anatoly Perminov stated that "unfortunately, the Russian Defence Ministry refused to launch this satellite, as the South African Defence Ministry for its turn refused to use our satellite.
The two countries' defence ministries decided to go their own way, and we did not interfere in these affairs.
Today there is no opportunity for the launch." - Sumbandila was meant to have been launched late last year from a Russian submarine; it would have been sent in a special capsule to an integration facility at the Russian Naval Base at Murmansk in northern Russia; the Russian Navy would then have fitted the capsule and the satellite to a Shtil 2.1 rocket, taken the submarine to sea, and launched the rocket.
The key phrase is "the South African Defence Ministry ... refused to use our satellite." What could this mean?
Firstly, it must be pointed out that the South African civilian satellite programme is run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), not the Department of Defence. So it must be a reference to a specifically military space or space-related programme on the part of South Africa, separate from that of the DST.
Secondly, refusing to launch the South African satellite is a major decision that could only be made at high-level in the ministry; it breaks a Russian obligation to South Africa, and deeply embarrasses Roskosmos. It could even damage Russia's reputation in the increasingly competitive international space launch market.
So the Russian Ministry of Defence must have been very annoyed with its South African counterpart. That, in turn, signals that the proposed programme, whatever it was, was a major one. This, further, suggests that it was not a mere matter of South Africa using an existing Russian military satellite, leasing capacity or buying imagery.
Rather, these scanty clues point to something on the scale of actually acquiring a military satellite from Russia - or, more precisely, seriously considering such an acquisition, including negotiations with the Russians (how else would Moscow know about project?), only to terminate the talks or cancel any agreement or deal, and doing so in a manner, or for a reason, which angered the Russian Defence Ministry.
Perminov's phrase "the two countries' defence ministries decided to go their own way," signals that the South African programme was not cancelled, but rather that this country has chosen to order the space vehicle from a third country, rejecting, for whatever reason, the Russian technology.
Assuming these deductions are correct, what kind of satellite could the South African Department of Defence be seeking? Military forces employ two types of satellite - communications, and reconaissance (popularly called spy satellites), with the latter subdivided into a number of categories, notably imagery, radar, and electronics.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can certainly justify either a communciations satellite or an imagery satellite. This is because of its increasingly extensive peacekeeping deployments in decidedly dangerous and remote areas of Africa.
The communications systems for UN forces can be very rudimentary and inadequate, and a national military communications satellite would give South Africa an independent and very secure communications link with troops deployed in places like Darfur. Similarly, possession of an imagery reconaissance satellite would give this country an independent source of very high resolution pictures of crisis areas and situations.
This would allow Pretoria to make critically important decisions (such as whether to join or withdraw from a UN force, or reinforce troops already deployed, or what way to vote in an UN debate) on the basis of some knowledge of what was really happening, instead of being dependent on the assertions and arguments of other countries.
It should be noted that reconaissance satellite technology is jealously guarded. It would have been a great concession to South Africa if Russia had been willing to grant this country access to even part of the latter's capabilities in this sphere. To turn down such an offer would be a rebuff indeed.
The strength of the Russian Defence Ministry's reaction to South Africa's decision not to use a Russian satellite thus suggests that Pretoria is seeking to acquire a reconaissance satellite. And there are less than a handful of countries with the capability to build such a craft. Apart from Russia and the US - which would not sell a reconaissance satellite to anyone - it is basically just France and Israel.
All this, by the way, does not mean that Russia, the country, will not launch Sumbandila. Roskosmos has its own rockets and launch facilities, and is a civilian agency. Scheduling and planned orbit permitting, it could still put the South African satellite in space.
Source: Engineering News
Equipment for Exercise Good Hope III arriving
Obviously the German Air Force is bringing equipment to South Africa for Exercise Good Hope III. At least two C-160 Transall arrived at Cape Town airport on 09 Feb 2008.
German C-160 Transall arriving at Cape Town Intl. Airport in UN colours - Image: "Kremlin"
Source: avcom.co.za
FGS Westerwald has also already arrived in Simon's Town.
SA troops to remain in Burundi for now
The mandate of about 1 000 South African soldiers deployed in Burundi under an African Union (AU) mandate is to be extended as efforts to get the last remaining rebel group to re-join the peace process gain momentum, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said on Tuesday.
He said Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula -- the facilitator of the Burundi peace process -- was to meet regional leaders on the fringes of the AU summit taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss his progress.
Read more at: Mail & Guardian Online
Dramatic sea chase off SA coast
A dramatic sea chase involving international intelligence agencies and a combined police, navy and Special Forces team has ended off the South African coast with a ship suspected of carrying a ton of cocaine being stopped and boarded.
Details of the operation have been kept under wraps until now while several international follow-up actions were being done.
A parcel containing 25kg cocaine that washed up on a beach at Gansbaai near Hermanus last Thursday was a possible indication of what had happened to the cargo.
Rear-Admiral Philip Schoultz, Chief Director Operations of the Defence Force, lifted the veil slightly on Monday when he referred to the operation for the first time.
He said the operation had begun with a call from a high-ranking foreign diplomat, whose identity remains a secret.
"He asked if we couldn't help with drugs that were being shipped to South Africa, destined for the market here.
"But the Defence Force doesn't have any law-enforcement mandate, that's a police function."
Dakota sent on sea search
After a high-level discussion between police and the Defence Force, planning for the operation got under way.
Preliminary intelligence indicated that the ship was sailing down the western coast and would round Cape Point on a specific date.
"There was a critical time in our planning that we couldn't get from the international source, so we estimated where the ship would be, judging from its speed and size."
"An air force Dakota was sent to search an area of 166km x 740km for a ship that fitted our descriptions.
The Dakota crew were told by the ship's captain that his was a fishing factory vessel. He was en route from Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to Maputo, to buy fish, he said.
The Special Forces water unit at Langebaan sent photographs of the ship to the Defence Force joint operations centre, where they and police already had been working together for a day.
The ship was not flying any flag, which made it a stateless vessel in maritime terms. It also meant that the navy could board it even in international waters, on grounds that it appeared suspicious.
The SAS Isandlwana, one of the navy's new frigates, followed the suspect ship covertly for 24 hours.
The absence of a flag persuaded Schoultz and his team to send a boarding-party.
Police sniffer dogs found nothing on board and the skipper showed them papers indicating that the ship was registered in Guinea (Conakry).
The ship could not be impounded.
Shortly afterwards, however, it turned around and headed back to its port of origin.
Drugs dumped at sea?
Police received further information from abroad that the ship apparently had had a rendezvous with another ship in the Atlantic Ocean a week earlier.
Schoultz said the ship was stopped when it reached Abidjan, but no drugs were found on board.
"We suspect the drugs were thrown overboard. We're happy that our operation succeeded, because that ton of drugs never reached the streets of South Africa," he said.
Source: Beeld/avcom.co.za
Huge iceberg off St Francis Bay 'unlikely'
It is highly unlikely that there could be a massive iceberg off St Francis Bay, a top South African Weather Service marine researcher said on Tuesday.
On Monday, the crew of a fishing vessel, the Ntini, reported seeing a massive iceberg -- estimated at 25m in length and 25m high.
It was last seen at 6pm on Monday, 35 nautical miles south-east of St Francis Bay.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said there had only been one sighting thus far, and he could not confirm the find.
Air force pilots on the lookout for the iceberg on Tuesday did not see anything of the sort from the air. Lambinon said the air force did not specifically go looking for the iceberg.
"The air force was due to fly in that area anyway and not specifically to look for the iceberg. They were requested to keep a lookout for it, but they did not find or see any iceberg," said Lambinon.
Read more at: Mail & Guardian Online
