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Defence & Aerospace

SA, Russia discuss low-orbit satellite joint venture

25th November 2002 State-owned industrial defence group, Denel, announced last week that discussions are under way between South African and Russia regarding a possible joint collaboration on launching low-orbit satellites, using South African launch infrastructure. →

South African defence firm makes its mark on international markets

By: Keith Campbell 22nd November 2002 The future looks bright for State-owned defence industrial group Denel as significant and growing success in export markets replaces the years of recession, retrenchment, and under-utilisation that so strongly marked the 1990s. →

Chile models its defence offsets on SA's programme

By: Keith Campbell 15th November 2002 SOUTH Africa’s experiences with its defence offset programme has helped Chile to develop an offset programme for its $650-million new fighter acquisition programme. →

Gripen offers Poles €8bn fighter deal offset

14th November 2002 The Anglo-Swedish joint venture making the Gripen fighter jet said yesterday Poland would get €8-billion worth of offset business if it chose the Gripen, in a $3,5-billion tender competition for 48 multi-role fighters. →

Electric technology generates aircraft change

By: Karel Smrcka 1st November 2002 The evolution of electrical power on civil aircraft has been slow. Proved technologies have become an industry mainstay and years pass before new technologies are accepted. →

Offset programme ahead of schedule, says submarine consortium partner

By: nkolola halwindi 1st November 2002 In terms of the South African government’s industrial participation (IP) programme, German-owned Ferrostaal – a partner in the German Submarine Consortium (GSC) responsible for the commercial aspects of the contract to buy the submarines – says important parts of the offset... →

Erwin moots auto-type plan for aerospace

By: Martin Czernowalow 23rd October 2002 Speaking at the official opening of Auto Africa Expo 2002 last night, South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, said the phenomenal growth of the local automotive industry should serve as an example to other sectors. →

Finnish navy selects SA missles

21st October 2002 The Finnish Navy has signed a multi-million rand contract with Denel’s Kentron division last week, for the supply of Umkhonto-IR surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and associated fire control equipment. →

SA missile firm seeks out Brazilian market

By: Keith Campbell 18th October 2002 South African missile manufacturer Kentron, part of the State-owned Denel defence industrial group, has been holding talks with defence companies in Brazil over possible cooperation. →

68 foreign delegations attend SA defence expo

By: Keith Campbell 18th October 2002 INITIAL indications are that the country’s and continent’s flagship aerospace and defence exhibition, Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD), which took place towards the end of last month, was a great success. →

Did SA get a good price for fighter jets?

By: Keith Campbell 11th October 2002 A comparison of the costs of South Africa's acquisition of 28 Gripen fighters with the prices being offered to Brazil for 12 advanced fighters. →

Tests positive on high-altitude telecoms platform

By: Martin Zhuwakinyu 11th October 2002 Efforts to establish high-altitude communication platforms (HACPs) in South Africa have received a boost following the announcement that technical feability studies conducted in the US in July and August proved that the concept works. →

Tanzania approves $20m SAA purchase

11th October 2002 Tanzania's government said it has approved a $20 million bid by South African Airways (SAA) for 49% of state-owned Air Tanzania Corporation. →

R2bn aircraft lease contract signed

By: nkolola halwindi 4th October 2002 In an R2-billion contract with South African Airways (SAA), newly established leasing company Safair Lease Finance (SLF) is leasing five new Boeing 737-800’s to the local airline. →

Nuclear reactors: the sky's no longer the limit

By: Kelvin Kemm 27th September 2002 We regularly hear of the challenge of providing energy here on earth, but there is another energy challenge unfolding in parallel, and that is the challenge of energy for deep space exploration. →

Firm in R8m air-conditioning deal for Navy's new corvettes

By: Helene Le Roux 27th September 2002 A Gauteng company is manufacturing components and sub-assemblies to be used in the air-conditioning systems of the South African Navy’s patrol corvettes. →

Aircraft engine test cell opened at Lanseria

25th September 2002 Aviation giants ExecuJet Maintenance and Pratt and Whitney Canada have re-opened the first Pratt and Whitney authorised test cell in southern Africa, at Lanseria International Airport. →

Defence industry is a national asset – Lekota

By: Martin Czernowalow 19th September 2002 The Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria yesterday played host to a successful opening of the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 exhibition, an event the country is hosting for only the second time. →

Big UK presence at aerospace show

18th September 2002 The United Kingdom has traditionally been enthusiastically represented at Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibitions; this year will be no exception. →

New home-grown tech to aid weatherman

By: marisa rodrigues 6th September 2002 In 1996, South Africa out was carrying soundings at eleven weather stations, across the country, twice a day. →

Hunting for moon trees

By: Kelvin Kemm 30th August 2002 A couple of guys are on the hunt for moon trees, and so far they have found 40 of them, and they are asking if anyone knows where any more are. So if you know, let me know, and I will pass on the message! →

R25-million defence empowerment deal signed

By: nkolola halwindi 30th August 2002 In a R25-million partnership deal, empowerment company Dynamic Global Defence Technologies says it is enjoying a real partnership with armoured vehicle business firm Vickers OMC. →

Engine that could start a revolution

By: Karel Smrcka 23rd August 2002 Dramatic savings in fuel and operation efficiency could result if an inventor’s ideas for a “completely novel internal combustion engine” are taken up commercially. →

Training is top priority for air force

By: Keith Campbell 23rd August 2002 The SAAF is determined to keep all squadrons at least at minimum operational skills levels.Top priority is training. The other top SAAF priority is the provision of air support for diplomatic missions. →

New logistics division formed

23rd August 2002 Local company Grintek and Saab of Sweden announced the formation of a new division under Grintron, their jointly owned defence electronics company, which will have its head office at Grintek Park, in the Highveld Technopark in Centurion, Gauteng. →

New planes, new technology for air force

By: Keith Campbell 16th August 2002 THE new aircraft which will be introduced into South African Air Force (SAAF) service in the coming five years will also bring new technologies into the service. →

Composites in defence group's armoury

9th August 2002 As an affiliate to the South African arms manufacturing group Denel, Kentron develops missiles and unmanned aircraft. →

Aircraft joins info war

By: Karel Smrcka 9th August 2002 Modern aircraft combat is moving into the realms of the information war. Future air battles will be dictated by the aircraft that can control the battle space, not just through raw combat power, and by the ability to exploit the data that gives the split-second edge. →

Submarine upgrade finally surfaces

By: Keith Campbell 9th August 2002 SOUTH Africa’s two remaining Daphne-class submarines have completed a major upgrade programme that lasted just over a decade. →

Defence firm upset by offset allegations

8th August 2002 Defence manufacturer BAE Systems has responded with surprise to what it calls an unwarranted attack launched on it and the South African government by a weekly newspaper. →

Tunisia to buy 12 aircraft

6th August 2002 Tunisian flag carrier Tunisair plans to spend about 700-million dinars ($510-million) on 12 aircraft as part of its expansion strategy and to renew its fleet, a Tunisair manager has said. →

SA aviation firm wins offshore distributorship

1st August 2002 US-based Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) has appointed National Airways Corporation (NAC) to represent it in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. →

French government launches privatisation of airliner

31st July 2002 The French Government has launched the privatisation process for Air France – a decision which will enable the airliner to face the increasingly tough international competition in the best possible conditions. →

SAA gets first of five new Boeings

30th July 2002 Newly established Safair Lease Finance (SLF)) is leasing five new Boeing 737-800s to South African Airways. →

Aerospace showpiece to be SME showpiece

By: Keith Campbell 26th July 2002 THIS year’s Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD 2002) exhibition – which will run from September 18 to 22 – will see a concerted attempt to bring South African small and medium (SME) and black economic empowerment (BEE) companies to the attention of international groups, in order... →

International demand for South African telecoms expertise

By: Deborah Spicer 26th July 2002 The South African subsidiary of Industrial and Financial Systems (IFS) is exporting its telecoms know-how to Trinidad and Tobago as well as to countries in the Middle East, following the successful implementation of the company’s asset-management software at the operations of MTN SA, MTN... →