A photo of me as a (recently turned) 20-year old 2nd Lieutenant Infantryman in 1982, filling my water bottles with ‘quality’ water (by bush standards) at a waterhole at Umundaungilo village, Ovamboland approximately 2km from the Angolan border. These events are still clear in my mind and of those who were with me. Although some […]

This support contract is particularly essential as the South African Air Force has had to manage its tight budget carefully. South Africa has recently signed a contract with GKN Aerospace, a global engineering company, for the maintenance of the engines of its Gripen fighter jets. This contract ensures that both engines and airframes are now […]

South African Denel Rooivalk attack helicopters will be modernized with Aselsan’s avionics under a deal signed during the recently-concluded IDEF-2023 exhibition. Aselsan and Denel Aeronautics signed a memorandum of understanding for the Rooivalk modernization during the African Aerospace and Defense (AAD) exhibition in 2022. The two companies signed a Certificate of Milestone Achievement during IDEF, SavunmaSanayiST.com reported. The South […]

Less than a quarter of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fleet of aircraft is serviceable as budget cuts, COVID-19 disruptions and problems at Denel erode its capabilities. This emerged during a Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) briefing that, amongst others, looked at the status of the maintenance of the SAAF fleet […]

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has temporarily grounded all of it’s Gripen multirole fighter fleet as none are serviceable.According to the Department of Defence (DoD), this is due to a lack of funding for maintenance, as support contracts were not renewed in time. “After a lengthy discussion between the South African Air Force (SAAF), […]

Tank Killers Take on Big Game A Soviet T-55 battle tank rumbles slowly through the southern Angolan countryside, its two mates in echelon close behind. The FAPLA tank commander peers nervously at every shadow, at every oddly shaped bush and rock. He knows the South Africans are nearby, and he’s sweating not only from the […]

Springbok civilians’ LM4 semiauto CIVILIANS in South Africa – particularly border farmers and cattlemen – have unusual home-defense requirements. Constantly threatened by bands of heavily armed insurgents and an escalating terrorist movement.most of the people with something to protect relied on second-hand FN FALs, Ruger Mini-14s, AR l5’s and an odd lot of weapons imported prior […]

South Africa vs SWAPO Terrorists   The story may be apocryphal, but judging by the depth of sentiment expressed when it is recounted, I doubt it. The way it was told to me by a senior member. of SWAPO’s external military command in Addis Ababa a few years ago, it goes like this-the timing is […]