Recently established Denel Integrated Systems & Management (Denel ISM) has formed an alliance with GEW Technologies, a South African subsidiary of Airbus Defence & Space, part of Europe’s Airbus group. The alliance is intended to pursue future electronic warfare (EW) programmes.

Denel ISM is part of the State-owned Denel defence industrial group. It was created (late last year) to serve as a partner in the defence and security industries in the field of complex systems – their design, integration, management and through-life support. GEW Technologies was previously known as Grintek Ewation and was originally set up in 1968. Its main shareholders are Airbus and local enterprise Kunene Finance Company.

“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,” stated Denel Group CEO Riaz Saloojee. “We are looking forward to work with Denel in an alliance that heralds a new era in EW programmes in South Africa,” said GEW Technologies CEO Carel van der Merwe.

The 2014 Defence Review identified EW as a “key technology domain” in which the country needed to maintain a “sovereign capability” vested in local companies. EW has become a core feature of modern defence systems. The alliance, the implementation of which will be managed by Denel ISM, will strengthen the country’s EW capabilities. Denel ISM will also lead the activities that will form the heart of the alliance.

“EW will be a primary future area of focus for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to rapidly expand its current capabilities and implement counter-measures to combat potential threats to the security of the country,” noted Denel ISM CEO Ismail Dockrat. “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 ongoing support, maintenance and upgrading of the systems.”

Denel Group already has a close relationship with Airbus Defence & Space. Denel Aerostructures has designed and manufactures major components for the Airbus A400M military transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft. “This [alliance] agreement confirms the trust that Airbus has in the capabilities of both Denel and GEW Technologies and will strengthen the relationship between our companies,” affirmed Airbus Defence & Space head of EW Andreas Huelle. The alliance will be able to benefit from the European company’s international experience and expertise in the defence sector.

GEW Technologies specialises in electronic support and electronic attack in the realm of communications, spectrum monitoring and management systems, force protection sys-tems, infrastructure and border security sys- tems and logistics support services and training. It has its own modern facilities, including well-equipped development laboratories, electromagnetic compatibility testing laboratories, an antenna test range, environ- mental test facilities, production and integra-tion facilities and vehicle installation facilities.

When the establishment of Denel ISM was announced, on December 3 last year, Saloojee described its creation as the “next step in the evolution of Denel as a company”. “We are opening up a new strategic area of business that will ensure Denel’s activities cover the broader spectrum of defence and security markets and enable us to meet the needs of our primary client, the SANDF, more effectively . . . This is another important step in our journey to grow from being a good company to becoming a great company.”

It is noteworthy that when its foundation was announced, Denel ISM’s full name was given as Denel Integrated Systems & Maritime division. It is now, however, stated to be Denel Integrated Systems & Management.