AAD 2006: relocating the latest Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition to Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town allowed the showing of full-scale ships, making it a genuine tri-service event. South Africa, a base for trading with all sub-Saharan Africa, is strengthening its defence equipment ties with Europe and is building new links with Brazil, China, India and Russia.

Moving AAD to Cape Town, a popular tourist destination, clearly raises this event's potential for growth in visitor numbers. It also provides easy access to large-scale hotel accommodation, and allows dockside viewing of destroyer-size vessels.

Full-scale ships were represented at AAD-2006 by the South African Navy's Isandlwana (F146), the second of the stealthy new 3590-tonne Valour (Meko A200) class corvettes and the Indian Navy's Mumbai (D62), the third of the 6500-tonne Delhi class guided missile destroyers.

India, Brazil and South Africa are strengthening their links under the Ibsa alliance, and India had a particularly strong presence at the show. The BrahMos Indian-Russian joint venture had its own stand to promote its ramjet-powered Mach 2.5 cruise missile.

The BrahMos missile is in service on the 3950-tonne INS Rajput (D51) destroyer, which has a twin-canister inclined launcher either side of the bridge. Another (INS Ranvir, D54) is in dry dock, being given an eight-cell vertical launch (VL) unit in the rear deck. The definitive installation is that of the 6400-tonne Kolkata class, which will have two eight-cell VL units at the bow.

The Indian Army has ordered its first BrahMos regiment, and the company is being funded by India and Russia to develop an air-launched version primarily for the Su-30MKI. President Putin is reportedly changing the law to allow Russian forces to acquire jointly developed equipment such as the BrahMos missile.

Although the South African Navy is still digesting its four new corvettes (of which acquisition of a fifth is rumoured) and three Class 209 submarines, several shipbuilders evidently believe that the service needs amphibious assault vessels with helicopter facilities (LPD/LPH).

Spain's Navantia showed a model of the 27,000-tonne LHD that is to replace the 17,200-tonne Principe de Asturias carrier (retaining a Stovl aircraft capability). Armaris, the Thales-DCN joint venture, showed a model of the 21,300-tonne, electrically powered Mistral BPC (Batiment de Projection et de Commandement), which can carry 16 NH90s. The Mistral, designed by DCN and Alstom Marine for the French Navy and launched in 2004, is to be followed by the Tonnerre.

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is proposing a mini-LHD displacing only 15,000 tonnes and offering space for eight NH90s and some commonality with SA corvettes.

TKMS also showed a model of the Idas (Interactive Defence & Attack System for submarines) torpedo-size container, which hydro-mechanically ejects four small guided missiles to engage an aircraft or--more recently--a small ship or land target. The missile is derived from the Diehl BGT Defence (DBD) Iris-T, with a swing-wing and fibre-optic link to the IIR seeker. The link allows retargeting or selection of a specific aim-point, and provides potential for reconnaissance. TKMS is teamed in Arge-Idas with DBD and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The programme is in the technology demonstration phase with funding from Germany's BWB.

Air

The new generation of South African Air Force aircraft was represented by the first Gripen (which arrived by sea in July 2006), three BAE Systems Hawk Mk 120s (of the ten delivered by Denel to the SAAF) and an Agusta-Westland A109 LUH.

Manufacturers are hoping to benefit from South Africa's need to improve internal security for the World Cup of 2010, which will require manned and unmanned surveillance platforms and new command and control facilities.

Sensor platforms included the lightweight Seabird Aviation Jordan Seeker, marketed in Africa by Paramount Logistics, and shown alongside a Denel Goshawk 350 sensor turret as used on some South African Police Service helicopters. In the light-twin category, Austria's Diamond Aircraft promoted two paramilitary versions of the DA42 Twin Star: the MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform) and the Opale (Optionally-Piloted Aerial Long Endurance).

Embraer presented a Brazilian Air Force P-99A (EMB-145) AEW&C aircraft with an Ericsson Erieye radar (see title photograph by the author). Given the growing ties with Brazil, South Africa may well buy the maritime patrol version to replace its antique C-47TPs. Embraer has a range of surveillance aircraft, which, being based on the EMB-145, offers interesting maintenance commonality and operational complementarities.

Denel hopes for further orders for the Rooivalk attack helicopter. ATE integrated the avionics and weapon system for Rooivalk (and later the SAAF Pilatus PC-7 Mk II and Hawk). This led to ATE upgrading Algerian Mi-24s to SuperHind standard with zero-timed airframes, the Rooivalk's IST Dynamics chin turret (with dual-feed 20 mm Giat F2 cannon), the same sensors but less expensive displays and Denel Ingwe anti-tank missiles. The company is considering developing a similar weapon system for the Mi-17.

ATE showed a mock-up of the proposed SuperHind Mk V, with the pilot moved to a front 'glass' cockpit, composite blades and a two-tonne lighter empty weight. It is hoped to sell this upgrade to Eastern Europe, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and others

ATE also announced an agreement with various Russian concerns, including Mil and Rosoboronexport (with Kazan and Rostvertol to follow), to co-operate on certifying Russian helicopters for commercial operation and on upgrading Russian military helicopters in Africa. A maintenance centre is to be established at Johannesburg.

It was announced at the show that Aerosud and the Paramount Group had agreed to jointly fund the purchase of 21 ex-SAAF Mirage F1s, to be refurbished for sale to Gabon and other developing countries.

In the drone field, ATE unveiled its three-kg Kiwit (Plover). Other unmanned aircraft included the Saab Skedar V-150 helicopter and the Boeing ScanEagle. China's CPMIEC showed an image of the twin-boom PW-UAV and India's DRDO presented models of its Nishant reconnaissance drone and Lakshya target. DBD promoted its SensoCopter quad-rotor micro-UAS.

Models of guided weapons included the new 280-km C602 cruise missile on the stand of CPMIEC, who also provided data on the 10.76-kg QW-18 man-portable surface-to-air missile. Denel Aerospace confirmed that full-scale development of the company's A-Darter air-to-air missile is now proceeding on a 50:50 funding basis with Brazil. This may well lead to joint development of a radar-guided version of the naval Umkhonto-IR.

On airborne equipment, Denel's optical head-tracking for helmet-mounted sights is now available in the form of the Trojan retrofit cap for existing helmets.

Ground

Denel showed a complete artillery system, with 155 mm G6 self-propelled howitzer and the ATE Vulture drone. ATE's success with the Mi-24 upgrade has led to a day/night fire control system for the T-72 and an unmanned turret with guns and Ingwe missiles for the BMP-I.

Kalashnikov-manufacturer Izhmash showed the current AK range, and the Bizon-2-01 submachine gun with 53-round, spiral-type magazine for 9 x 19 Parabellum ammunition. Denel Land Systems presented the NTW-20 anti-materiel rifle, now modified to fire 20 x 110HS ammunition.

Denel Munitions' PMP is developing a full range of 20 x 42 lethal and non-lethal ammunition for the Neopup Personal Assault Weapon, designed by Tony Neophytou and manufactured by Gemaco Elbree.

Finally, AAD-2006 marked the launching of a new South African group, Ngwane Defence, which will concentrate on mine- and ballistically-protected vehicles, infantry weapons and all-terrain vehicles.