State-owned defence industrial group Denel has assured that its contract to supply the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) with new-generation Badger infantry fighting vehicles is “not in jeopardy”. This assurance follows reports that Patria, the Finnish company responsible for the base AMV design, of which the Badger is a localised variant, is suing Denel for R112-million.

“Denel has reached a settlement agreement on outstanding issues with Patria in December 2022,” reported Denel Group CEO Mike Kgobe. “All legal actions by Patria were halted in terms of this agreement and Patria continues to support Denel in the execution of the contract.”

The Badger armoured vehicle family is being developed and produced under the SANDF’s Project Hoefyster (“Horsehoe”). The tender for the project was issued by defence acquisition agency Armscor.

However, the project has been hampered in recent years by a number of financial and contractual problems. Kgobe also assured that these had now all been addressed and that the programme was continuing, with the approval of the Department of Defence.

“The contract is definitely not at risk,” he affirmed. “We are working closely with Patria, Armscor and other stakeholders to ensure the SANDF receives modern combat vehicles which deliver superior mobility, protection and firepower for our troops.”

The Badger family (of five main versions) is based on the Patria AMV and the original contract was signed in 2007, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2012. The programme is thus now running more than a decade late, the delays reportedly the result of the massive “State Capture” corruption scandal.

In sharp contrast, Poland also chose the Patria AMV as the base for its Rosomak family of combat vehicles, and deliveries of locally-produced vehicles started in 2005. By last year, some 900 Rosomaks had been delivered to the Polish Army, in a range of versions.